Former fotballer O.J. Simpson was accused of trying to steal some sports memorabilia that were claimed belong to him.
O.J. Simpson was arrested on Sunday (16.09.07) for his alleged involvement in an armed robbery. The former American footballer has been charged with a string of offenses, including two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, during the incident at Las Vegas' Palace Station Casino on Thursday (13.09.07).
He is accused of trying to steal sports memorabilia being sold by a private dealer out of his hotel room, which he claimed belonged to him. Simpson has been ordered to be held without bail after police officers seized him from his hotel room at the Palms Hotel, also in Las Vegas.
Walter Alexander was also arrested, while four other men are still wanted by police. Tapes of the alleged confrontation have been obtained by US website TMZ, which show Simpson was the ring leader. At one point, the 60-year-old can be heard repeatedly saying: "Think you can steal my s**t and sell it?" During the incident, one of the men says: "You, against the motherf***ing wall."
The recording was made by Thomas Riccio, who met up with Simpson just before the robbery. Riccio - who recorded the incident to prove the memorabilia being sold by Alfred Beardsley was illegal – said he believed Simpson was going to confront Beardsley in the hotel to give him an ultimatum – either hand over the goods or Simpson would call the police.
Before he was taken into custody, Simpson told US news channel CNN: "The truth will come out in the end." If found guilty, Simpson could face up to 35 years in jail.
In 1995, Simpson was cleared of murdering his wife Nicole and her lover but was later held responsible in a £20 million civil hearing.
