Ben Gordon smiles during arrest for grabbing woman's phone, hours after being bailed for hitting son, 10
If you or anyone you know suspects child abuse, you are urged to immediately call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: Former Chicago Bulls star Ben Gordon was released on bail on Wednesday, October 12, after being arrested for allegedly hitting his son, 10, only to be arrested again hours later. He was reportedly brought to the NYPD’s 32nd Precinct in Manhattan on an outstanding warrant in connection with a 2020 cellphone robbery. After his arrest following the alleged assault on his son, Gordon was released after celebrity bail bondsman Ira Judelson paid the $50,000 insurance bond.
On March 13, 2020, Gordon was booked in connection with a cellphone robbery incident in which a 19-year-old woman claimed he grabbed her phone after she dropped it while trying to make a call. She accused Gordon of elbowing her during the altercation. The relationship between Gordon and the woman is unclear.
READ MORE
The shove and the tackle that rocked NFL: Bobby Wagner and Davante Adams in hot water for 'assaults'
Marcus Maye: NFL player 'vehemently denies' allegations after being arrested for aggravated assault
Gordon was seen with a wide smile on his face as a cop escorted him into Manhattan Central Booking with his hands cuffed behind his back. However, by Wednesday night, he was released again on his recognizance by a Manhattan judge at his arraignment on a misdemeanor assault in connection with the 2020 incident. His attorney Joshua Kirshner said, “he’s fine, he’s happy to be heading home to friends," New York Post reported.
In the incident involving his son, the boy was hit so hard that he had to be hospitalized. Gordon faces charges of assault and resisting arrest after he appeared in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday, October 11. Airport police detained the 39-year-old on Monday, October 10. His son Elijah was taken to Long Island Jewish Hospital, accompanied by his aunt, New York Daily News reported.
Meanwhile, Gordon's enraged ex-girlfriend claimed he did not punch his son in the face but was actually targeted by a "Karen” who recognized him as a celebrity. Ashley Banks told New York Post that the "Karen" intervened after recognizing Gordon and sparked his arrest. “The problem is the child was traumatized,” said Banks, who dated Gordon from 2016 to 2020.
“The child saw his father being arrested, taken away,” Banks said. “He was waiting in custody until his aunt picked him up. So that is the worst part of it, you know, and so we want to really protect him.” The child who was hit by Gordon reportedly had an order of protection out against his father. Banks has now claimed the boy might suffer lifelong scars. “We were just disappointed because you keep seeing this pattern with black people,” Banks said. “And it’s sad, but like a child is traumatized from it. How do you calm a 10-year-old? He’s probably going to be scared of the police. Because he’s little.”
According to witnesses, Gordon struck his son with a “closed fist” as they waited for a flight to Chicago. He was barred from boarding the plane and has been accused of locking his arms and resisting arrest. Two Port Authority cops were said to be injured in the arrest. However, the extent of their injuries remains unknown.
Banks apparently suspects the "Karen" recognized the star and decided to “take advantage” of the situation. She said she had noticed others do the same with Gordon in the past. Gordon, who has admitted that he has mental health issues, has a history of aggressive behavior. Banks told the Daily Mail that she once even got a restraining order against him, but she believes he cannot abuse a child.
“I spoke with a child’s mother and like, she’s like, ‘he would absolutely never do that.’ The child’s fine. Safe. Was not hit at all,” Banks told New York Post. “It was completely fabricated. It’s really, really sad. Because when you put something out like that, especially on athletes and celebrities, it doesn’t go away.”