Samson Nacua, the brother of Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua, was arrested early Saturday in West Hollywood, Calif., on suspicion of stealing a vehicle, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The vehicle, an SUV, belonged to Los Angeles Lakers rookie Adou Thiero, multiple team sources told The Athletic on Thursday.
Samson Nacua, 27, and Trey Rose, 27, were booked in West Hollywood between 3 and 4 a.m. and were released later that morning, according to L.A. County Sheriff’s Department records. They were both arrested for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
The sheriff’s department said deputies were flagged down in the 8400 block of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. They contacted a victim, who said his newer model BMW was stolen, and he was able to track it to that location.
“During the initial investigation it was discovered that suspect Nacua took the vehicle from the Wilshire location and suspect Rose was the driver when they arrived at the Sunset location,” the sheriff’s department said.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Thiero, a forward, has appeared in nine games for the Lakers this season, scoring 10 points in just under six minutes per game on the court. The day after Nacua and Rose were arrested, the Lakers played a road game Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, and Thiero did not play in the 116-114 win due to a coach’s decision.
The Lakers’ next game is on the road Thursday against the Utah Jazz.
Samson Nacua last played for the UFL’s now-defunct Michigan Panthers following stints in NFL training camps with the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. He recorded nine receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns with the Panthers last season.
The UFL suspended him for one game in April after video showed him shouting at a fan following a loss on the road to the St. Louis Battlehawks. Nacua appeared to jump and slap the fan in the face before jogging off. The league said at the time that, in addition to the suspension, Nacua agreed to participate in a community service program.
Before going pro, Nacua played collegiately at Utah and BYU. Another brother, 30-year-old Kai Nacua, was a safety for the Panthers last season after five years bouncing between NFL rosters, including stops with the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets.
Puka Nacua, in his third NFL season, has helped power his team to an 11-3 record. He drew criticism himself on Wednesday after participating in a live stream with online personalities Adin Ross and N3on. During the stream, Nacua criticized NFL referees for seeking attention rather than calling games fairly.
“The refs are the worst,” Nacua said. “These guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV, too. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you just saw me on “Sunday Night Football?” That wasn’t PI (pass interference), but I called it.’”
Players can face fines for publicly criticizing game officials, though there haven’t been any penalties announced for Nacua.
Nacua said he tried to host the stream from the Rams’ facility on Tuesday, but Ross and N3on were denied access. During the video, Ross and Nacua also practiced a touchdown celebration incorporating Ross’ signature move of rubbing his hands together. Ross, who is Jewish, has previously acknowledged that the gesture plays on an antisemitic stereotype, and he has controversially lent his platform to figures accused of racism, including, at one point, white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
Nacua apologized on Thursday for practicing the celebration.
“At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people,” he wrote on Instagram. “I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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