NBA News Wire
T-wolves Cunningham back in jail
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Dante Cunningham was arrested for the second time in three days Sunday afternoon because he sent “terroristic” text messages to a woman with whom he was living, Medina, Minn., police said Monday.
Cunningham’s latest arrest is tied to the alleged victim in his initial arrest Thursday in which he was charged with felony domestic assault by strangulation of his girlfriend. She is cited by police in the criminal complaint as saying that the 26-year-old kicked down a locked bedroom door, gripped her by the neck and slammed her against the wall, choking her for 15 to 20 breathless seconds.
Cunningham posted $40,000 bail and was released Friday evening. Cunningham started Saturday in place of Kevin Love against the Orlando Magic. He was ordered to have no contact with the woman.
Police said they received a call from the woman Sunday morning claiming Cunningham violated a protection order by contacting her.
“When the officer arrived and reviewed the messages, they were direct and rose to a terroristic level,” according to a statement by the Medina police.
Cunningham surrendered to police later Sunday and turned over his cellphone and computer as part of the investigation.
Cunningham was in custody but has not been charged. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday.
“The situation with Dante Cunningham is very fluid, and we continue to monitor all available information,” the team said in a statement. “We reiterate that the Minnesota Timberwolves do not condone the behavior described in the accusations. We continue to wait for the legal process to run its course and will have further comment when appropriate.”
In his fifth NBA season, Cunningham is averaging 6.1 points and 4.1 rebounds. He is the final season of a contract that pays him $2.1 million this season.
