Ex-NBA star Ben Gordon was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation over the weekend after Mount Vernon police responded to a confrontation between him and a woman at Gordon's downtown business.

Gordon, 34, was not charged in the incident, which lasted about two hours as police freed the 31-year-old woman from inside the Gramatan Avenue store before finding Gordon in the bathroom.

Four months ago, Gordon was arrested in Los Angeles after allegedly setting off fire alarms in his apartment complex. A spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney's office said Tuesday that Gordon failed to appear in court in late June and a bench warrant for his arrest was issued.

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A hoops star at Mount Vernon High School and the University of Connecticut before becoming the latest city resident to make it big in the NBA, Gordon maintained his ties to Mount Vernon, returning each year to sponsor youth programs and other community events.

Last month, he opened his own business, Of Our Own, a center for sports rehabilitation, training and holistic wellness in the city.

Just after noon on Saturday, police responded to a call for assistance at the store. The first two officers saw the distraught woman crying and shaking just inside the entrance, according to a police report.

She motioned that the door was locked and let them know Gordon was in the back of the business with a knife.

At least eight other officers soon arrived and Gramatan Avenue was shut down. A sergeant tried unsuccessfully to make contact with Gordon. A detective spotted Gordon through the glass with a box cutter in his possession, according to the report.

Emergency services officers then cut a portion of the glass door and got the woman out. Police then entered, found Gordon in the bathroom and handcuffed him.

He was then transported to St. Vincent's Hospital in Harrison. It could not be determined Tuesday whether he had been released or how long he remained there. Calls to relatives were not returned. Bob Cimmino, his high school coach who has remained close to Gordon, declined to comment.

The woman, who lives in Los Angeles, told police that she and Gordon had argued and he demanded she leave. She packed her bag but Gordon locked the door, according to the report.

She told police that during the argument, Gordon "began to destroy and throw everything" inside the business. She said she was not injured.

Although the report indicates the detective saw Gordon with a box cutter, police did not locate one.

Gordon is listed only as a suspect in the report, which listed the status of the case as "Closed By Investigation".

The report did not address the relationship between the woman and Gordon, although they are seen together in several pictures on Instagram. On a video shot outside Of Our Own, she posted, "Very very proud of my King."

She returned to Los Angeles after the weekend incident but could not be reached for comment.

Police Commissioner Shawn Harris was not in the office Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for Mayor Richard Thomas, who is close with Gordon, did not immediately respond to questions.

A star at many levels

While in college, Gordon led the Huskies to a national championship as a junior in 2004 before entering the NBA draft. The Chicago Bulls took him with the number three pick and he won the NBA’s Sixth Man Award in his rookie season.

After five years with the Bulls, Gordon played with Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando Magic over the next six years. He played two preseason games for the Golden State Warriors in 2015 and tried to make a comeback this past winter by playing with the Texas Legends in the NBA G-League.

Coincidentally, Saturday was the league's draft day and the Chicago affiliate, Windy City Bulls, acquired the rights to Gordon.

On Monday he posted on Instagram: I’m on the Windy City Bulls? Wait how? I thought I was a Chicago bull.

In response to a poster suggesting the Chicago Bulls needed him back, Gordon responded "Ya'll good my hood need me more".

Ever since his high school days, Gordon has been a source of tremendous civic pride in Mount Vernon. Each summer since going pro he sponsored a weekend or full week of barbecues, basketball clinics, autograph sessions and programs to promote good career choices for the city's youth.

The Ben Gordon New Life Playground just down the block from his South Eighth Avenue home was dedicated in 2009. And earlier this year, his visage was included among 15 great city athletes on the Mount Vernon Wall of Legends bordering Memorial Field.

On June 1, Gordon was arrested after Los Angeles police and firefighters responded to fire alarms at his apartment building but found no fire.

Gordon was released on $5,000 bail. The spokesman for the City Attorney's Office said that when formal charges were filed three weeks later, Gordon was sent a letter detailing the four misdemeanor charges - one for triggering a false fire alarm and three for delaying or obstructing a police officer. It directed him to appear in court for an arraignment on June 30. Gordon did not show up and the bench warrant was issued.





Twitter: @jonbandler