Strawberry Jailed in Florida

OCALA, Fla. — Darryl Strawberry was jailed Tuesday, his 40th birthday, for breaking a rule at the drug-treatment center where he had been serving two years of house arrest.

Florida Department of Corrections officials did not provide details. The eight-time major league All-Star did not leave the program or test positive for drugs, said Joe Papy, supervisor of probation services in Tampa.

Strawberry was being held without bond in the Marion County Jail and was kicked out of the drug-treatment program at Phoenix House, a residential facility about 80 miles north of Tampa. He was scheduled to appear this morning at the Marion County Judicial Center.

As deputies were escorting him to the jail, Strawberry said he was confused by his arrest, the Ocala Star-Banner reported.

“They just said I was discharged from the program,” Strawberry said outside the jail.

Strawberry said he had not been accused of fighting or other infractions at the center.

Strawberry was sentenced in May to two years of house arrest at the center following a four-day, cross-state drug binge.

Strawberry faces up to 18 months in prison for violating his probation, which he has violated five times.