Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 17, 1994 TAG: 9405170116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CORAL GABLES, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
Police said they found Capriati, 18, alone in her room at the Gables Inn. During a search, they uncovered an undetermined amount of marijuana, said police Sgt. Mitch Fry.
When the female runaway and a 19-year-old Miami man arrived at the room, they were arrested on heroin and crack cocaine charges, Fry said.
Capriati was charged with possession of marijuana and released to her attorney, John Ross. Linda Dozoretz of International Management Group, which represents Capriati, had no immediate comment.
It was Capriati's second brush with the law since she dropped off the professional tennis tour last August.
In December, she was cited by Tampa police after her agent said she inadvertently left a shopping mall booth with a $15 silver ring for which she hadn't paid. Police were barred from confirming the incident since Capriati, then 17, was a juvenile.
Capriati has not competed since losing in the first round of the U.S. Open last August. She left the tour because of an injured elbow, then in January said she wouldn't return to playing until after her high school graduation in June.
Fry said he he didn't know how long Capriati had been staying at the hotel.
``I don't even know if these people know each other very well,'' Fry said.
The 17-year-old runaway, who was not identified because of her age, was charged with possession of two packets of heroin. The man, Tom Wineland, was charged with possession of suspected crack cocaine, Fry said.
Capriati in 1990 became the youngest player to win a match at Wimbledon and at the French Open became the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist. She reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 1991, has a career record of 149-45 and has earned $1.5 million in prize money.
by CNB