Charles Barkley was in his hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona last night/this morning, and after running a stop sign at 1:30am, was arrested on suspicion of drinking while driving and taken into custody. Via MSNBC....

An officer with a law enforcement task force that targets drunken driving saw the former NBA star run a stop sign around 1:30 a.m., said Gilbert police Lt. Eric Shuhandler.

Barkley declined to submit to a breath test but was given a blood test. The results weren’t immediately available. After Barkley was processed, he was cited and released. He left in a cab, Shuhandler said. Shuhandler said there was nothing remarkable about the 45-year-old Barkley’s arrest and that it is customary to release people after they’ve been arrested on suspicion of DUI.

“There was nothing unusual about how he was taken into custody,” Shuhandler said. “He was treated exactly like we treat anybody else.”

Well this isn't the best way to start out a new year, now is it? He obviously hasn't been found guilty of the DUI yet, but if it turns out that he was drinking and driving, it will be a fitting end to a crazy year for Barkley. I hate to preach to people, but to anyone with money to spend out there....please....PLEASE!....just get a damn driver to tote you around. I'm as stubborn as anyone, but there's too much at stake to be risking everything by driving drunk.

Barkley arrested on suspicion of DUI (MSNBC)