'DWTS' Contestant Hines Ward Stopped, Handcuffed at Gunpoint

May 05, 2011

"Dancing with the Stars" contestant and Pittsburgh Steelers football player Hines Ward was stopped by police early Thursday while riding as a passenger in a car that was reported stolen; he was removed with the female driver and handcuffed at gunpoint.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to ET that the car -- driven by an unidentified female -- was spotted in North Hollywood around 2 a.m. when officers ran the license plates and the car came up as stolen. The woman owned the car and had reported it stolen last month during a misunderstanding with a restaurant valet and did not cancel that theft report, a police spokesperson said.

Once it was established that the woman was the rightful owner of the vehicle, she was released with Hines and allowed to go. The police spokesperson said the two had been placed in handcuffs at gunpoint because this is operating procedure when it is assumed that a felony might have been committed.

A rep for Hines said: "It was a misunderstanding, the police were just doing their job. Apologies were made and Hines was very cooperative and understanding. He is fine and it's over."