The RCMP of Manitoba announced today that former Los Angeles Kings forward Mike Richards has been charged with possession of a controlled substance while entering Canada. According to Rick Westhead of TSN, Richards has not yet entered a plea.
Richards had his contract terminated by the King earlier this offseason after an incident at the Canadian border. Here’s more from the initial TMZ report.
NHL officials have been notified that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation into ex-L.A. Kings player Mike Richards involves the prescription drug oxycodone … multiple sources tell TMZ Sports.
Our sources say Richards was stopped while crossing from the United States into Canada on June 17th … and we’re told he was questioned about oxycodone pills, a powerful painkiller. For the record, Richards has NOT been charged with a crime.
However, he has since been cut from the team for “a material breach of the requirements of his Standard Player’s Contract.”
https://twitter.com/EricOnSportsLaw/status/636895254667501568
Westhead elaborated further, saying Richards was caught with a small amount of pills for his own use.
Canadian border guards found “some pills in a single bottle” during a random search of Richards’ car and he was arrested by RCMP, a source told TSN. “It was clearly a small quantity intended for his personal use,” the source told TSN.
Richards is due to appear in court September 10th of this year.
We’ll have more as the story breaks.
