Chris 'Birdman' Andersen Investigation Targets Child Pornography
The home of a player from the NBA's Denver Nuggets was raided on Thursday following a tip related to child pornography.
The Douglas County Internet Crimes Against Children Unit or ICAC, seized material from the Larkspur, Colo., home of Chris "Birdman" Andersen, 33, after investigators received a tip from an unnamed source in a California law enforcement agency.
Douglas County Police spokesman Ron Hanavan stated that investigators took property from Andersen's residence which they deemed to be related to the ongoing investigation.
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"We need to complete a thorough investigation to determine what, if any appropriate charges would be forwarded to the District Attorney for prosecution," Hanavan told local media.
The Nuggets have removed Andersen from participating in any team-oriented functions pending further developments in the investigation.
"The Denver Nuggets are aware of today's media reports involving forward/center Chris Andersen. It involves a legal investigation and we are awaiting further details. Per team policy, the Nuggets will not comment on any ongoing legal circumstance involving any player or employee," team officials wrote in an unsigned statement to the Denver Post.
Mark Bryant, Andersen's attorney, released a statement urging people not to rush for judgment and to let the investigation run its course.
"I believe in Chris. I would ask the citizens of Colorado to give Chris his due … Like every one of us, he is presumed innocent. At the end of the day, I am confident it will be shown that he did nothing wrong," Bryant said.
During his career Anderson has been involved in children's charities including raising money for Mount Saint Vincent, a facility aimed at helping abused children, as well as the Alliance for Choice in Education, which raises money to allow for low-income families to send their children to private schools.
In 2006, he was suspended from the league for violating the NBA's substance abuse policy.
