Former NBA player Ben Gordon was arrested Monday after he repeatedly punched his 10-year-old son in the face at LaGuardia Airport.
An American Airlines employee witnessed the child abuse and yelled at Gordon to stop. The employee told police she witnessed Gordon punch the boy multiple times in the face after he dropped a book on the floor of LaGuardia Airport, according to court documents obtained by the New York Post.
When two Port Authority police officers tried to arrest Gordon, he “flailed his arms and twisted his body” and reportedly told the officers “I am not going with you guys,” according to the police report.
Gordon, 39, continued to resist arrest when the officers attempted to place him in the back of a patrol car. One officer injured his knee during the scuffle.
The boy was transported to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.
An Illinois court issued an order of protection for the boy against the father back in May 2018, according to the complaint. The order prohibits Gordon from “committing physical abuse, harassment, or the interference with personal liberty” against his son.
The order of protection also prohibited Gordon from taking his son out of the state of Illinois.
Gordon’s ex-girlfriend claimed he did not punch his son at LaGuardia Airport Monday.
Ashley Banks, who is not the boy’s mother, told The Post that a “Karen” who recognized him as a celebrity and made a false accusation against him.
“I spoke with the child’s mother and like, she’s like, ‘He would absolutely never do that.’ The child’s fine. Safe. Was not hit at all,” Banks told The Post.
Gordon was arraigned Tuesday night in Queens Criminal Court. He faces multiple assault charges and resisting arrest.
Judge Edwin Novillo set bail at $20,000 in cash, a $50,000 insurance bond or $50,000 partially secured bond at 10%.
Gordon was unable to post bond and spent the night at New York’s notorious Rikers Island Jail.
He has a history of suicidal thoughts and mental health problems.
Gordon helped lead the UConn men’s basketball team to the national championship in 2004 before playing 11 years in the NBA.
