According to reports from Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has been arrested in the Dominican Republic.
Informa policía dominicana que Starlin Castro fue apresado para ser interrogado por balacera en discoteca esta madrugada #Cubs
— Enrique Rojas/ESPN (@Enrique_Rojas1) December 27, 2014
El vocero de la policía dominicana @Jacobommoquete informó que personas muy cercanas a Castro están involucradas en balacera.
— Enrique Rojas/ESPN (@Enrique_Rojas1) December 27, 2014
#Cubs SS Starlin Castro arrested Saturday by authorities for questioning by a shooting that left 6 injured by bullets, police said.
— Enrique Rojas/ESPN (@Enrique_Rojas1) December 27, 2014
The arrest comes in connection with a shooting that occurred in a Dominican Republic night club earlier in the month. Castro had been questionned by authorities previously and is reportedly “close” to the main suspects in the shooting.
Castro’s agent had previously stated that he was cleared of all wrong-doing in the incident. “Starlin and his family were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Paul Kinzer told CBSChicago.com on December 9th. “They were at a concert when someone in a black SUV started shooting at a car next to them. Starlin and his family are fine. They are clear of any involvement in this altercation by Dominican officials.”
The 24-year-old has been a MLB regular for five years now, including three all-star appearances. He hit .292/.339/.438 with 14 home runs, 65 RBI, and 4 stolen bases for the Cubs last season. His offensive WAR is 2.9, while his defence is pretty close to replacement level at just -0.2 dWAR. Over his career he has hit .284/.325/.410 with 51 Home Runs and 70 steals.
Update: Despite the initial report saying he was arrested, it now appears that Castro was merely detained for questioning and has now been released.
Castro’s agent, Paul Kinzer, told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune that his client “wasn’t involved” in the shooting and went voluntarily to the police to be questioned:
“Starlin was not arrested or detained or anything,” Kinzer said. “He went to the police station to make sure they knew he was not involved. They told him they had video so they knew he was not involved.”
Kinzer did not know if Castro’s brother or bodyguards were arrested.
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