Meldrick Taylor
by John N. Mitchell, Philadelphia Tribune Staff Writer
Former boxer Meldrick Taylor was arrested early Tuesday morning for allegedly pulling a gun on an unidentified man.
Taylor, 52, a former world and Olympic champion boxer, was arrested in the 2700 block of Lehigh Avenue at 1:30 a.m. following a 90-minute standoff with SWAT that ended without incident.
He was charged with aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, terroristic threats and other related offenses.
Police said the standoff started around 11 p.m. Monday when the victim, a 26-year-old man, and his friend returned to his apartment. Taylor was reportedly waiting inside the apartment and informed the 26-year-old man he had to vacate in the morning. The man told Taylor he needed 30 days notice prior to eviction and Taylor pulled out a silver revolver, police said.
Police were called and arrived shortly thereafter at the residence, knocked on the door and heard Taylor say, “I ain’t coming out,” police said.
SWAT was called and Taylor still refused to come out. He was arrested at the end of the standoff.
Taylor, a North Philadelphia native, boxed professionally from 1984 to 2002. He was a two-time champion who held the IBF welterweight championship from 1988 to 1990 and the WBA welterweight championship from 1991 to 1992.
In 1984, Taylor won a gold medal in the featherweight division at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
215-893-5732; jmitchell@phillytrib.com
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