Denver Nuggets’ player Ty Lawson gets 4th DUI arrest, this one in L.A.

Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Tuesday in Los Angeles, the fourth time the player has been arrested for allegedly being intoxicated while behind the wheel, according to police and media reports.

A California Highway Patrol officer pulled over Lawson, 27, as he drove his white Mercedes-Benz north on the 101 Freeway past Alvarado Street about 2 a.m., the CHP said. Lawson stopped at Melrose Avenue, according to a CHP statement.

“[Lawson] displayed several signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication and was subsequently arrested for DUI” about 2:30 a.m., the statement said. He was booked into Los Angeles County Jail and released on $5,000 bail about 8:30 a.m., jail records show.

Lawson identified himself as an NBA player with the Nuggets to the CHP officer, the department said. He was arrested without incident.

This is Lawson’s second arrest on suspicion of DUI this year and at least his fourth during his basketball career, according to media reports.

In January, Lawson was pulled over in Denver after a police officer saw him allegedly speeding. Lawson told the officer he drank before driving and then failed several field sobriety tests, according to the police report.

Lawson was charged with speeding, careless driving and driving while intoxicated. But the report also revealed that Lawson stated he had previously been arrested in Missouri on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, though a date for that arrest wasn’t given.

In 2008, Lawson pleaded guilty in North Carolina to underage drinking and driving while he was a player with the University of North Carolina basketball team.

Requests for comment from the Nuggets organization and the NBA were not immediately returned.

Reporter James Queally contributed to this report.

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.