Pubdate: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2001, The Tribune Co. Contact: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 Section: Florida Metro page 1 Author: Gary Sprott STRAWBERRY FOUND AT HOSPITAL, ARRESTED Even with his arrival hours before at a local hospital, the four-day disappearance of baseball star Darryl Strawberry remained shrouded in mystery late Monday. The day began with reports - apparently generated by Strawberry, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said - that the former New York Yankees outfielder had been kidnapped and was being held for $50,000 ransom. It ended with Strawberry being arrested at the St. Joseph's Hospital at 8 p.m. Monday night, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies said. Strawberry, 39, had been missing since leaving a residential drug treatment center late Thursday. The eight-time All-Star is serving two years of community control and one year of probation. A warrant was issued Friday for his arrest. Friends said they were concerned - Strawberry has colon cancer and has told a judge he had considered suicide. Strawberry arrived at St. Joseph's Hospital with several unidentified people Monday afternoon. ``The search is over and Darryl is OK,'' said friend Ray Negron, a Cleveland Indians consultant. ``We've put him in a hospital to make sure he's taken care of.'' There was no immediate explanation as to Strawberry's whereabouts or actions over the past four days. As the new baseball season got into full swing Monday, law enforcement and corrections officials had fielded calls from reporters around the nation asking about Strawberry's latest troubles. The sheriff's office was investigating reports that Strawberry told a family member and an acquaintance he was being held for ransom. At least one report placed him in Orlando, which was news to authorities there. ``I don't know how we got into the middle of this,'' said Sgt. Angelo Nieves, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office. ``We don't have any Darryl Strawberry sightings here.'' Strawberry was arrested in 1999 for drug possession and soliciting a prostitute. He was sentenced to probation, subsequently tested positive for cocaine and was sentenced to community control. Strawberry was suspended from baseball for a year following his failed drug test. He then was arrested in November for leaving a drug treatment center to smoke crack cocaine and pop antidepressants. A judge sent him back into treatment over prosecutors' objections and ordered him to wear an electronic monitor. The monitor on Strawberry's ankle emitted a signal to probation officials when he left the treatment center Thursday. However, the monitor didn't indicate his location. Prosecutors said Monday they would again seek prison time for Strawberry for the latest in a string of violations. He could face up to five years behind bars. Joe Papy, regional director of the state Department of Corrections, called the disappearance ``extremely surprising,'' saying Strawberry had been staying drug free and in therapy. Tribune staff writer Stephen Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. - --- MAP posted-by: GD