Former Sonics star Dale Ellis sought after wife reports assault

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Former Seattle SuperSonic Dale Ellis, one of the premier shooters in basketball during his 16-year professional career, is being sought for questioning after he allegedly hit his wife during an argument yesterday morning, Bellevue police said.

The incident allegedly occurred around 7:45 a.m. at the couple's home on south Lake Sammamish. Ellis' wife called 911 to report an assault in progress, according to Bellevue police spokeswoman Marcia Harnden.

Responding police treated Ellis' wife for minor injuries to her face and hands. By then, Dale Ellis was gone, Harnden said. Police searched for him all day and as of last night still didn't know his whereabouts.

Police revealed few details about what had happened. There were no weapons involved, Harnden said. Ellis' wife did not have to go to a hospital.

The Ellises have one daughter.

Ellis, 41, paid $11,414 in court costs and fines after he was convicted of assaulting his wife and resisting arrest in January 1989.

He has also been cited for approximately two dozen traffic violations and has been involved in three car accidents, including a one-car, high-speed, drunken-driving accident in January 1990 for which he served one day in jail.

Yesterday, Bellevue police forwarded the alleged assault case to city prosecutors. There is enough evidence to charge Ellis with misdemeanor assault-domestic violence, Harnden said.

Because of the high priority of domestic-violence cases, a summons to appear in court will soon be issued to Ellis.

"A summons is equivalent to an arrest; if we were able to locate him (yesterday), he would have been arrested and booked into jail, and he would have to make a court appearance," Harnden said. Under a new rule which became effective Sept. 1, domestic-violence suspects in King County can no longer post bail until they're arraigned.

"We have no idea where he is, but there's nothing to indicate that he's a flight risk," Harnden said.

"He's a known suspect. He's not a threat to the community."

Steve Hayne, a Bellevue attorney who represented Ellis through the 1980s and early 1990s, did not return phone calls yesterday.

The Sonics acquired Ellis in 1986 from the Dallas Mavericks. The next year, the Sonics went to the Western Conference Finals. In 1989, Ellis finished third in the league in scoring, averaging 27.5 points a game.

In 1990, he was suspended for five games after brawling with teammate Xavier McDaniel. In 1991, Ellis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for guard Ricky Pierce.

Ellis, who has played for seven NBA teams, returned to Seattle for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. His career ended after he was waived by the Miami Heat in October 2000.

Ellis, from Marietta, Ga., ranks second all-time in three-point baskets made, behind Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers.

In 1988, Ellis signed a contract for $7.3 million over six years, making him the second-highest-paid guard in the league, behind Michael Jordan.

Michael Ko can be reached at 206- 515-5653 or mko@seattletimes.com.