Originally published May 8, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 21, 2007 at 9:01 PM
UW basketball player arrested in hit-and-run accident
University of Washington basketball player Artem Wallace was taken into police custody early Sunday morning on suspicion of being involved in a hit-and-run car accident on Alki Avenue.
Seattle Times staff reporter
University of Washington basketball player Artem Wallace was taken into police custody early Sunday morning on suspicion of being involved in a hit-and-run car accident on Alki Avenue.
Wallace, a 6-foot-8 reserve forward who recently completed his sophomore season at UW, was one of two suspects investigated and then released following an incident at around 1:30.a.m. Sunday.
Seattle police say the men were arrested and released from the Southwest precinct. Police are still investigating, and charges are expected to be recommended to King County prosecutors.
A police report stated that a car hit a motorcyclist from behind on Alki Avenue.S.W. The motorcycle then hit a parked car, and the rider fell off.
The vehicle that struck the motorcyclist sped off without stopping to render aid or exchange information, according to a witness quoted in the police report. The witness reported that the vehicle, a 1996 Acura Integra, then lost control about a block north and hit a parked car.
No injuries were reported.
Witnesses described two men opening the trunk of the car and placing several items into a backpack, and putting the backpack in nearby bushes before running off. The backpack was later discovered, and contained several beers and bottles of alcohol, according to the report.
Two police officers arrived soon after the men left the scene of the accident and saw them running north on Alki. When the police officers got out of their car and ordered the two to stop, the pair continued to run before being caught and placed in custody.
The police report described both men as “extremely intoxicated.”
Each denied driving the vehicle and none of the witnesses was able to see who had been driving, the report said.
UW coach Lorenzo Romar said that he had talked with Wallace about the matter, but that he would reserve comment until the investigation is completed.
The school also released a statement in which Romar said that Wallace “is cooperating with the investigation. I am still in the process of gathering all the facts. When all of the information is available, I will determine an appropriate course of action.”
![]()
Such incidents have been almost non-existent at UW since Romar took over as coach in 2002. Wallace is the first UW player known to have been arrested since then.
Wallace has been primarily a reserve for UW the past two seasons but did start seven games, most coming at the midway point of last season. He averaged 2.4 points. He scored a career-high of 12 points in a loss at Arizona and finished the season with one of his best games, scoring 10 points in a Pac-10 tournament loss to Washington State.
Wallace graduated from Toledo High School after moving from Russia.
Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com.
Read his blogs on Washington
football and basketball at www.seattletimes.com/huskies.
Times staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan contributed to this article.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
3A football: Liberty stuns O'Dea 38-35
UPDATE - 07:08 PM
Huskies no match for Oregon State, fall 48-21
NEW - 06:14 PM
Prince leads UCLA over Washington State 43-7
UPDATE - 07:14 PM
Jerry Brewer: Huskies revert to last season's form in disappointing performance
3A football: Lindbergh blows out Ferndale, 52-21

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Man says he will protest city's gun ban by carrying gun into community center
- OSU game thread
692 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
358 - Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
150 - NYC trial for 9/11 suspects poses risks
136 - Kent man challenges Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' gun ban
123 - Band of advocates, activists now McGinn's likely insiders
106 - Wright State game thread
97 - Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue
90 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
75 - Huskies no match for Oregon State, fall 48-21
60
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- An 802.11n upgrade could make a big difference
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15








