NEW YORK — Houston Rockets guard Rafer Alston was charged Tuesday with slashing a man's neck during a ruckus at a Manhattan nightspot — his second brush with the law this month.
Alston was arraigned on felony assault charges before being released without bail. His lawyer said Alston was "absolutely innocent."
The man who said he was injured told police the incident occurred about 3 a.m. Monday after he and Alston accidentally bumped each other inside Club Stereo. During an ensuing argument, the man said, Alston slashed his neck.
The 41-year-old went to a hospital to be treated for a minor neck injury, then filed a complaint at a police precinct.
Defense attorney Alberto Ebanks said bouncers and other witnesses told him the man didn't appear to be injured when he left the club and never bothered alerting police officers who were in the area.
The arrest came three weeks after 31-year-old Alston was charged with misdemeanor assault and public intoxication in Houston.
Alston was accused of grabbing a parking attendant's arm, shaking him and spitting on him after his vehicle was towed from a lot. The attendant said Alston parked illegally and didn't pay. Alston told a Houston television station that he didn't do anything to the attendant.