Charges dropped against former MLB star Lenny Dykstra

Charges dropped against former MLB star Lenny Dykstra

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:57 p.m. ET

ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) — A judge has dropped drug and terroristic threat charges filed against former Major League baseball player Lenny Dykstra after an altercation with an Uber driver.

A judge dismissed the charges Friday after Dykstra pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was fined $125.

Dykstra said he is "happy this chapter of my life is behind me."

The three-time All-Star, who was a member of the New York Mets' 1986 championship team, said the driver tried to kidnap him in May 2018 in Linden after he asked to change the trip's destination.

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The driver told police Dykstra held a gun to his head, though no weapon was found.

Dykstra's attorney, David Bahuriak, previously called the incident "overblown" and that his client was innocent.

Bahuriak had filed a motion to suppress evidence before the judge's ruling, saying that a police search of the man's belongings was improper and there were no witnesses to the alleged threat.

The judge granted the motion, telling Dykstra, "I hope you have learned a lesson from this."

The driver told NJ.com that it was important Dykstra entered a guilty plea. He said Dykstra has "admitted to what he did in my car."

A kidnapping complaint filed against the driver is pending.

Since retiring from baseball, Dykstra has served prison time for bankruptcy fraud, grand theft auto and money laundering.

He is currently facing a summons for illegally renting out rooms in his home for $1,000 each.

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