Los Angeles police arrested a man on suspicion of felony stalking Friday night outside the Brentwood residence of basketball star LeBron James, authorities said, after the suspect allegedly claimed to be James’ son.
Officers responded to the mansion in the affluent neighborhood on the west side of Los Angeles after receiving a radio call concerning a possible burglary suspect, NBC News and the New York Post reported. Law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles that private security personnel at the estate first spotted the man on surveillance cameras before contacting authorities.
The call went out at approximately 9 p.m. Friday, according to TMZ Sports, while Los Angeles police said officers were summoned to the scene shortly after 9:30 p.m., NBC News reported. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to OutKick that responding officers took the individual into custody without incident, and he was formally booked on a felony stalking charge.
Claims made to responding officers
Upon being confronted by law enforcement, the suspect told officers that he believed he was James’ son, according to reporting by TMZ Sports and NBC Los Angeles. Police have not publicly released the identity or age of the detained man.
The individual did not successfully breach or enter the home, TMZ Sports reported. Under California law, stalking is defined as willfully, maliciously and repeatedly following or harassing someone, according to the New York Post.
A spokesperson for James did not provide a comment regarding the arrest, Fox News reported.
James away competing in Cleveland
James was not at the property when the arrest occurred. The 41-year-old forward was in Cleveland, where the Philadelphia 76ers played against his former team, the Cavaliers, on Friday night.
The Cavaliers defeated the 76ers 119-95, handing Philadelphia its second loss to move to an 8-2 record for the season, according to Fox News. James recorded eight points during the game, shooting 3-for-12 from the floor and missing all four of his three-point attempts, Fox News reported.
James joined the 76ers in July after spending the previous eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Post and Fox News reported. James began his professional career with Cleveland in 2003 and later guided the franchise to an NBA championship in 2016 during a second stint with the team.
Living arrangements and family
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer maintains multiple properties across the country. In addition to his Brentwood residence, James owns a residence in New York and frequently travels to Philadelphia by helicopter, Fox News reported. He is also developing a large residential compound in Beverly Hills, according to the New York Post.
James is a father of three children: Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James, Arizona Wildcats guard Bryce James, and a daughter, Zhuri, the Post reported.
Officials have not disclosed what bail amount was set for the suspect or when he is scheduled to appear in court, and police have not indicated whether additional charges will be filed as the investigation remains ongoing.
