Former Rays, Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes arrested after trying to eat bag of pot
Former Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes was arrested in Tampa after he tried to eat a plastic bag of marijuana and had a marijuana cigar tucked behind his ear, police said.
The 27-year-old Dukes faces charges of marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, destroying evidence and driving with a canceled or suspended license.
Dukes played for the Rays from 2003-2007. He played for the Washington Nationals in 2008 and 2009. The Nationals released him from spring training in 2010.
He was beginning a new career as a rapper, going by the name “Fly Eli.”
Since 2001, Dukes has been arrested dozens of times for domestic violence, failure to pay child support, marijuana possession and other issues. Most of the charges were dismissed.
He told The Tampa Tribune that he believed MLB blackballed him last year after he came forward with allegations that fellow players were smuggling drugs onto chartered aircraft, using drugs in hotel rooms and how he would occasionally smoke marijuana before home games when he played for the Nationals.
