The one-time father figure to LeBron James is facing felony vandalism charges after authorities say he kicked out the window of a state trooper’s cruiser.
Eddie Jackson Jr., 46, also was charged with obstructing police and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.
He was arrested about 5:30 a.m. Nov. 11 by Highway Patrol troopers who say they found Jackson inside a parked vehicle on an Interstate 77 exit ramp at state Route 18 in Bath Township.
Jackson, who lives in Copley Township, was arrested less than a mile from James’ home in Bath.
According to court and jail records, Jackson “parked his vehicle on the roadway” and was “under the influence of alcohol.” After being handcuffed and placed inside the trooper’s cruiser, Jackson “kicked out the left rear window.”
Jackson was booked into the Summit County Jail, where he was held until he posted a $5,000 bond two days later.
According to court records, Jackson is represented by Stow attorney Christopher Wells, who could not be immediately reached for comment.
Jackson had been called a father figure and mentor to James during the basketball star’s childhood in Akron and at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
Jackson missed James’ early years in the NBA with the Cavaliers while serving a three-year prison sentence he began in 2003 for racketeering, money laundering and forgery charges related to a mortgage scam.
He is scheduled to appear in Summit County Common Pleas Court on Nov. 30.
