By now, everyone who cares about the Memphis Grizzlies knows about Zach Randolph’s latest troubles, most significantly his implication in a drug case in his native Indiana, but also a report of his connection with an assault at a Los Angeles strip club. In both cases, the direct subject of the allegation is not Randolph but rather an associate of his, an old story for those familiar with Randolph’s notorious — but unseen or unnoticed in Memphis — “Hoop Family” entourage. (As Flyer editor Bruce VanWyngarden quipped, Randolph may be “posse-whipped.”)
Roughly 24 hours after the initial report on the Indianapolis drug case first emerged, I’m just now getting a chance to dig into the story. Let’s look at what we now know about the case — I’m focusing on the Indianapolis case here, which seems much more serious — and where things could go.
What We (Seem To) Know
Based on a probable cause affidavit submitted by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detective Ryan Graber, what seems to have happened is this:
A confidential informant gave the IMPD a tip about drug-related activity connected to Randolph and his suburban Indianapolis home, with specific information about a Randolph associate named Arthur Boyd.
After watching the residence and detecting activity consistent with a drug-dealing operation, IMPD officers pulled over Boyd, driving a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. The car ended up being registered to Randolph and after a subsequent search (the legal details of which could end up being an issue), a cooler was found containing more than 90 grams of marijuana separated into bags. There were also hidden compartments in the car, one of which included a round of ammunition. There was also paperwork connected to a self-storage unit also registered to Randolph. An investigation of the storage unit led to a K-9 unit detecting “positive indications for the presence of controlled substances” and the impounding of three custom Chevrolet Impalas, which apparently did not have door handles and were equipped with electronic keyless entry. The cars apparently had not been searched at the time the affidavit was written. Boyd was arrested for “dealing and possession of marijuana.”
In the affidavit, Graber refers to Randolph as “the financier for known drug dealers in Indianapolis,” but beyond information given by the referenced confidential informant, there doesn’t seem to be enough evidence in the affidavit to support quite that strong of a claim.
