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Philadelphia police said yesterday that they were investigating reports that Allen Iverson, the controversial 76ers star, forced his way into a West Philadelphia apartment early Wednesday and threatened two men inside.
Information about the alleged incident is scarce, but Capt. Stephen Glenn of the Southwest Detectives unit said a complaint had been filed by the two men several hours after police responded to a 2 a.m. call at their apartment.
"I can tell you that we do currently have an investigation, but I'm not at liberty to discuss any details," Glenn said during a news conference at the 18th Police District headquarters yesterday afternoon.
An unidentified man who answered the phone at the Cobbs Creek apartment of Sean Bowman, where the incident allegedly took place, was equally tightlipped.
"Right now nobody is talking about it," he said.
Iverson did not appear as scheduled at a charity flag-football tournament yesterday in his native Virginia.
But Gary Moore, his confidant and personal manager, who did attend the event, denied the allegations.
"It's a shame people are still taking potshots at him. There's no truth to it at all. It'll probably be straightened out by Monday," Moore said.
Glenn said the complaint alleges that Iverson, 27, and an unidentified male companion "committed a trespass" and exhibited "what would broadly be described as assaultive behavior."
Glenn said he did not think any physical contact was made, but the charge includes the fear that there could have been.
He also said that he did not believe Iverson was in the apartment when police arrived, and he would not confirm whether a gun was displayed during the alleged intrusion.
"I can't discuss if a weapon was involved or if threats were made," Glenn said. He said that police had not yet talked to Iverson, and that the investigation was moving slowly because it was a holiday weekend.
David Coskey, the Sixers' senior vice president, speaking on behalf of the organization, said it would be "inappropriate" for him to comment on an active police investigation.
The apartment building is near Cobbs Creek Parkway on Chestnut Street between 62d and 63d Streets. Several residents of the four-story, 76-unit brick structure said they didn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary at the time of the alleged incident.
However, Tyrone Smith, a resident on the same floor as Bowman, said yesterday that he was interviewed Friday morning by Lt. Michael Chitwood, who is heading the investigation.
"I ain't seen no Allen Iverson," Smith, 57, said. "I'd love to see him just to get his autograph. He's a decent young man. All these big-time players making all this money... . You can go somewhere, [but] he comes to the ghetto, man, and buys his clothes and shops."
Two young fans said that in a neighborhood where Iverson's No. 3 jerseys were ubiquitous, his presence would have been noticed.
"If Allen Iverson had been here, you would have heard fans screaming," said a 13-year old girl who lives in the building.
Unless they know a special code or are buzzed in by a resident, visitors cannot just walk into the building. Security, however, is not what it used to be, when a card was needed to gain entry.
"It's easy to get into now," said one longtime resident who said he planned to move someplace safer.
This would not be Iverson's first brush with the law. In 1993, he served four months in a Virginia prison for his role in a bowling-alley brawl. That conviction was overturned on appeal.
In 1997, he was allowed to not enter a plea after Virginia state troopers found a .45-caliber pistol in a car in which Iverson was a passenger. He was placed on three years' probation and suspended for one game by the National Basketball Association.
Philadelphia police said yesterday that they were investigating reports that Allen Iverson, the controversial 76ers star, forced his way into a West Philadelphia apartment early Wednesday and threatened two men inside.
Information about the alleged incident is scarce, but Capt. Stephen Glenn of the Southwest Detectives unit said a complaint had been filed by the two men several hours after police responded to a 2 a.m. call at their apartment.
"I can tell you that we do currently have an investigation, but I'm not at liberty to discuss any details," Glenn said during a news conference at the 18th Police District headquarters yesterday afternoon.
An unidentified man who answered the phone at the Cobbs Creek apartment of Sean Bowman, where the incident allegedly took place, was equally tightlipped.
"Right now nobody is talking about it," he said.
Iverson did not appear as scheduled at a charity flag-football tournament yesterday in his native Virginia.
But Gary Moore, his confidant and personal manager, who did attend the event, denied the allegations.
"It's a shame people are still taking potshots at him. There's no truth to it at all. It'll probably be straightened out by Monday," Moore said.
Glenn said the complaint alleges that Iverson, 27, and an unidentified male companion "committed a trespass" and exhibited "what would broadly be described as assaultive behavior."
Glenn said he did not think any physical contact was made, but the charge includes the fear that there could have been.
He also said that he did not believe Iverson was in the apartment when police arrived, and he would not confirm whether a gun was displayed during the alleged intrusion.
"I can't discuss if a weapon was involved or if threats were made," Glenn said. He said that police had not yet talked to Iverson, and that the investigation was moving slowly because it was a holiday weekend.
David Coskey, the Sixers' senior vice president, speaking on behalf of the organization, said it would be "inappropriate" for him to comment on an active police investigation.
The apartment building is near Cobbs Creek Parkway on Chestnut Street between 62d and 63d Streets. Several residents of the four-story, 76-unit brick structure said they didn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary at the time of the alleged incident.
However, Tyrone Smith, a resident on the same floor as Bowman, said yesterday that he was interviewed Friday morning by Lt. Michael Chitwood, who is heading the investigation.
"I ain't seen no Allen Iverson," Smith, 57, said. "I'd love to see him just to get his autograph. He's a decent young man. All these big-time players making all this money... . You can go somewhere, [but] he comes to the ghetto, man, and buys his clothes and shops."
Two young fans said that in a neighborhood where Iverson's No. 3 jerseys were ubiquitous, his presence would have been noticed.
"If Allen Iverson had been here, you would have heard fans screaming," said a 13-year old girl who lives in the building.
Unless they know a special code or are buzzed in by a resident, visitors cannot just walk into the building. Security, however, is not what it used to be, when a card was needed to gain entry.
"It's easy to get into now," said one longtime resident who said he planned to move someplace safer.
This would not be Iverson's first brush with the law. In 1993, he served four months in a Virginia prison for his role in a bowling-alley brawl. That conviction was overturned on appeal.
In 1997, he was allowed to not enter a plea after Virginia state troopers found a .45-caliber pistol in a car in which Iverson was a passenger. He was placed on three years' probation and suspended for one game by the National Basketball Association.
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