Tarpley Suspended for Drunk-Driving Arrest : Basketball: Star Dallas forward out indefinitely. His NBA career is put in jeopardy.

Dallas Mavericks forward Roy Tarpley, whose NBA career has been in jeopardy since 1987 because of drug and alcohol abuse, was suspended indefinitely today in the wake of his arrest for drunken driving.

Tarpley was suspended by the ASAP Family Treatment Program of Van Nuys, Calif., which handles the NBA’s substance abuse program, on behalf of the league.

“I am suspending Roy without pay indefinitely until we can sort everything out,” said Dr. Dave Lewis with ASAP. “It’s clear that alcohol was involved last night. That is in non-compliance with his aftercare.

“Roy will be suspended until he has fully in compliance with his personal aftercare program,” Lewis added.

Police said Tarpley, 24, also was charged with resisting arrest after officers stopped his 1986 Mercedes-Benz late Wednesday night on a Dallas freeway.

A police spokesman said Tarpley’s car was tailgating another vehicle at 70 mph before he was stopped by police for questioning. When officers tried to question the 6-foot-11, 240-pound Tarpley, he swung his arms but did not strike the arresting officers.

“It took numerous officers to make the arrest,” said Sgt. J.L. Sullivan.

Tarpley was taken to the Lew Sterrett Justice Center and booked on the two charges. He was released on bail early today.

The arrest was the latest in a string of incidents involving Tarpley, who was the Mavericks’ first-round draft choice in 1986 from the University of Michigan.

“Had the NBA had not taken disciplinary action against him, we would have,” said Mavericks general manager Norm Sonju.

Tarpley has been under the NBA’s three-violation anti-drug program for cocaine and alcohol dependency since the first incident in the summer of 1987. His second violation came in January of 1988 when he failed to adhere to terms of his drug dependency aftercare program.

Under terms of the NBA anti-drug and alcohol program, another violation would mean a two-year suspension and the suspension of his reported $9 million contract with the Mavericks.

The most recent incident involving Tarpley came Oct. 27 when he missed a morning practice and did not contact the team until that night. He explained that he overslept, and promised, “You’re going to see a new Roy Tarpley.”