Brewers Infielder Sheffield in Police Confrontation

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Gary Sheffield and Dwight Gooden, his uncle, were involved in a confrontation with police last March in which Sheffield had a gun put to his head, he and witnesses said.

It was reminiscent of an incident more than three years ago, also involving Sheffield and the New York Mets pitcher, that brought Tampa and its police force harsh publicity.

Police confirm they believed that they were stopping a man suspected of dealing in 6 kilograms of cocaine. But they won’t say who they mistakenly stopped outside a popular Tampa nightspot.

A story in today’s St. Petersburg Times quoted Sheffield as saying police stopped him and a friend. Gooden, who was in a car behind them, tried to intervene.

“I said, ‘I’m Gary Sheffield and I’m a professional ballplayer,’ ” the Brewers infielder said. “They said, ‘I don’t care who you are, you’re driving a dope dealer’s car,’ and they threw me up against the car.”

A crowd of patrons leaving Grace’s Place witnessed the incident, which occurred after midnight March 14. Some said the officers were trying to provoke Sheffield.

Gooden did not return a call made to him through the Mets in New York, and his agent, Jim Neader of St. Petersburg, said as far as he knew, the pitcher did not plan to comment.

Deputy Chief Tom DePolis refused to say whether the confrontation was related to his decision last week to abruptly disband a night squad that patrolled west Tampa, nor would he say whether Sheffield and Gooden were involved.

Sheffield and his friend, Chuck Jones, said they have filed complaints with the department.

Sheffield and Gooden had a confrontation with police late in 1986 when they were stopped for a traffic infraction and wound up in a brawl with nearly two dozen officers. In that incident, Gooden was charged with resisting arrest and battery on a police officer.

Gooden, who claimed that the arrest was racially motivated, pleaded no contest and was placed on probation. He later moved from Tampa to nearby St. Petersburg.