Gillies Arrested for Cocaine Possession

UPDATED (5:30 p.m.)

Phillies prospect Tyson Gillies, who the organization acquired in the Cliff Lee trade, was arrested early Friday morning in Clearwater, Fla., on a felony charge of cocaine possession.

He is free on $2,000 bond.

The Phillies confirmed the arrest, but said, “because this is an open case, we will not comment further at this time.”

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Cecilia Barreda said the incident originally occurred June 11.

A patrol deputy spotted Gillies standing on the shoulder of Rt. 19., near Enterprise Blvd., in Clearwater. Gillies was waving a white shirt in the air at passing motorists.

The deputy approached Gillies and noticed he appeared intoxicated. Gillies told the deputy he was waving his shirt because he was looking for his friends, and he thought it would help them see him. He also said he was walking back to his hotel, which was the La Quinta Inn.

Gillies said he had spent several hours that evening at The Freaki Tiki Bar, which is not far from where the deputy spotted him.

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