| | NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Police say NBA bad-boy Dennis
Rodman is setting a record in his neighborhood for most police
calls to a house, usually because of loud parties.
The disturbances have become so frequent that police want
prosecutors to charge him with violating the city's noise
ordinance -- which could lead to brief jail time.
Just one problem: the complaining party refuses to come forward,
and some people who live around Rodman insist he's a great
neighbor.
"I had this stereotype that it would be crazy to live near him,
with wild parties. But it's not. It's cool," said Brandon
Showalter, 24, who lives a few houses away. "He welcomes us
over."
Local police say they want Rodman to tone down his trademark
rowdiness.
Since the rainbow-haired former basketball player moved in,
officers have been summoned to his home 28 times because of wild
parties and blaring music, according to Newport Beach Police Sgt.
Mike McDermott.
"It's become a real pain up there," McDermott said. "It's a
waste of police resources."
Since July 1998, police have leveled $2,800 in penalties against
Rodman, but they have had little effect. Rodman is no stranger to fines. The NBA charged him a total of
$193,500 for numerous violations, such as head-butting a referee
and disparaging the Mormon religion.
Meantime, police have failed to get prosecutors to charge him
with more serious violations because no neighbors will go on the
record with a complaint.
"Somebody is calling us," McDermott said. "We're not just
going out there and finding it. People are complaining."
Rodman has ingratiated himself with some locals by taking part
in neighborhood football games and inviting them over for barbecues
or to listen to his jukebox. He even picks up some of their
children from elementary school.
But last week, the mayor and police department received an
anonymous letter calling for Rodman to be evicted. "I have the right to peace and quiet," the letter said. "And
I would hope that the city as well as the police department can
accommodate its loyal tenants, rather than appease a disgraced
athlete who has nothing better to do with his time than throw
parties."
Not all of Rodman's contact with Newport Beach has been because
of parties -- even he has called police to his home to help get rid
of revelers who wouldn't leave.
On Tuesday, Rodman was cited for driving on a license
suspended after a December drunken-driving arrest. Officer Dan Crane recognized him behind the wheel of a bright
yellow Volkswagen with blue flames shaped like naked women.
"We know his vehicle and we can't just let him go.," Crane
said. "He's not above the law."
Rodman was released recently by the Dallas Mavericks.
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