ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602260034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.
SOURCE: Associated Press
CONTROVERSY surrounds the outfielder as he and his wife announce their divorce.
Atlanta Braves star David Justice said Friday that his divorce from actress Halle Berry has nothing to do with him being stopped by police in an area frequented by prostitutes and drug dealers.
Justice said the couple, who married three years ago, have been separated formally for several months. He conceded that the timing of the divorce announcement was sure to raise eyebrows.
The outfielder was stopped by police in neighboring Riviera Beach last weekend after officers said they saw him parked in a car along a road in a high-crime area. No charges were filed.
``She was very supportive,'' Justice said of his soon-to-be ex-wife. ``She knew what was up with that. That had no bearing'' on the divorce.
Justice was critical of Berry, who said Thursday through a publicist that their marriage was over.
``I think more than anything, the timing of it was wrong,'' Justice said Friday, adding that he wasn't caught off-guard by the announcement. ``We had been talking about this. There was nothing adversarial.''
Although Justice and Berry maintained homes in Atlanta and Los Angeles, their professional obligations caused them to spend long periods of time apart.
``It's something that's kind of been brewing for a while,'' Justice said. ``Any marriage is tough, but we were pretty much bi-coastal, and we didn't get a chance to spend a lot of time together. I think our feelings kind of changed.
``But I still love her. I wish her nothing but the best.''
Berry declined to discuss the reasons for the breakup in her statement.
``I live a very public life, but this is a painful and private situation that I am not prepared to discuss,'' said the actress, who has starred in several films including ``The Flintstones'' and ``Losing Isaiah.''
Justice and Berry were married Jan.1, 1993. Their marriage has been grist for tabloid gossip, and speculation about a possible breakup has grown in recent months.
``We figured it was finally time to go ahead and let it out of the bag,'' Justice said.
News of the divorce capped off a hectic week for Justice, who spent most of Thursday answering questions about the incident in Riviera Beach, just north of West Palm Beach.
Officers said they stopped Justice late Sunday night after his new Lexus was seen parked - its lights off - with someone leaning in talking to the driver. After the stop, officers said they saw money in the passenger seat.
Justice, who hit 24 homers with 78 RBI last season, said he was simply driving around the West Palm Beach area the night before position players reported to spring training and stopped briefly to get his bearings. He said he never talked to anyone, and his money was actually in a console between the two front seats.
``There ain't nothing I can do about the skepticism,'' Justice said. ``I just know I had honest intentions.''
Riviera Beach police issued a statement Friday saying initial reports that Justice was under investigation after the stop were inaccurate.
``The investigation was to determine if proper police procedure was followed,'' police chief Jerry Poreba said. ``After our review of the radio transmissions and officers' statements, it was determined that the officers involved had acted properly.
``This investigation is completed and the matter is considered closed.''
Nelson Rivers, southeast regional director for the NAACP, said his organization would investigate the case for civil rights violations if they received such a request from Justice. The outfielder, however, said it was time to move on.
``I've got to let it go,'' he said. ``The more life you give to it, know what I mean? It was a bunch of crap to begin with and I'm going to let the crap lie.''
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Justice.by CNB