Former Tigers pitcher Denny McLain arrested, accused of stealing scrap metal
Former Detroit Tigers star pitcher Denny McLain is in trouble again, this time for allegedly stealing scrap metal from two landowners in Louisiana, authorities announced today.
McLain, who has served time for embezzlement and was once suspended from baseball for gambling, spent the night in jail after getting arrested Thursday in Port Huron, where he accidentally wound up on the bridge to Canada while trying to get to a Cracker Barrel.
Border officials said that McLain, who had become confused by all the construction, turned around without going to Canada. But he was stopped for inspection at the border, where officers discovered an outstanding arrest warrant for McLain from the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana.
Louisiana authorities said McLain was wanted over a scrap metal debt. McLain, along with some workers from his company, American K.I.E. Steel and Commodities, had cut a deal with two landowners to buy their scrap metal, but never paid them, they said.
“Everything’s fine,” McLain told the Free Press today, just hours after he was released on a $10,000 cash surety bond.
McLain would not discuss his case, saying only that his lawyer had it right when he said that “there had been a mistake.”
McLain’s lawyer, Grand Rapids attorney Josh Fahlsing, said that his client had no idea that he was wanted in Louisiana, and that there’s been a “mistake” involving the Louisiana business negotiation.
“Mr. McLain had no knowledge of this warrant. He was an accidental fugitive,” Fahlsing said. “He was never on the run.”
Fahlsing would not discuss the details of the criminal allegations, saying only:
“We hope to get this matter cleared up with the authorities in Louisiana as soon possible. I think he’s looking forward to getting this matter cleared up.”
An extradition hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 4 in Port Huron.
Meanwhile, McLain’s wife, Sharon, isn’t taking the news in stride.
“I’m just about at the end,” Sharon Mclain told the Free Press today, sounding exasperated.
Asked whether she was surprised about the arrest warrant, she said: “Oh yes, to say the least.”
Sharon McLain said Denny McLain called to tell her about his arrest, but she did not go to Port Huron to help him, and said she has no plans to travel to Louisiana with him if he's extradited.
According to Capt. Patrick Yoes of the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, an arrest warrant was issued for McClain on Aug. 26.
According to Yoes, McLain, along with workers for his company, American K.I.E. Steel and Commodities, approached two landowners in the Bayou Gauche area offering to buy some scrap metal they had on their property. The agreement, he said, was that once the scrap metal was weighed at a salvage yard, the owners would be paid a specific amount per pound.
With the exception of a deposit demanded in advance by one of the landowners, no money was ever paid for the scrap metal, Yoes said. Investigators with the St. Charles Parish District Attorney’s office “had repeated conversations with Mr. McLain,” but nothing ever happened so an arrest warrant was issued, he said.
Yoes said he does not know how much scrap metal was involved, or its exact worth– only that it was worth more than $1,500.
This is not the first run-in with the law for McLain, who in 1968 helped the Tigers win a world championship by posting a 31-6 record and 1.96 ERA, and later won the Cy Young Award.
In 1996, McLain and his business partner were convicted of embezzling $2.5 million from a pension fund and then laundering it. McLain was sentenced to eight years in prison and was ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the fund.
In 1970, McLain was suspended by then-baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn for alleged gambling. Later, he was fired as general manager of a minor league team for running up its debt; he was in bankruptcy court three times; he pleaded guilty in 1985 to possession of cocaine.
In 1992, he lost his daughter, Kristin McLain-Sutherland, in a fiery traffic accident.
Attorney Christopher Andreoff, who had represented McLain in the pension fund criminal case, was surprised and saddened when he learned about McLain’s arrest.
He told the Free Press that he had not heard from McLain or anyone in McLain's family. The last time he heard from McLain was a few years ago, when McLain telephoned to tell him he was looking for work, possibly in radio.
“I wish him all the best,” Andreoff said. “I feel very bad.”
What a sad story. The man had the world by the tail and all he has repeatedly done is take advantage of others. He does not know the meaning of the word reconciliation and obvioulsy has not learned his lesson -- lock him up and throw away the key. My hamburger stand will do just fine without him.
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