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Ball drops, charges follow: Lenny Dykstra’s rough start to 2026

  • Phillies

Dude, what now?

Just when it seemed like you hadn't heard about former Phillie Lenny Dykstra running afoul of the law for quite some time, Friday night happens. 

Well, actually New Year's Eve shenanigans happened, we just didn't hear about it until about 40 hours later. 

According to multiple reports, Dykstra, 62, was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop up in Pike County, Pa. - not far from his Scranton area home - not long after the ball dropped on 2026. 

Way to kick off the New Year, Nails.

Dykstra was a passenger in a 2015 silver GMC Sierra truck in Greene Township, which is part of Pike County, when it was stopped by police for what was alleged to be a motor vehicle code violation.

Allegedly, once stopped, Dykstra was found to have drugs and the paraphernalia on his person and was arrested. 

It ended a streak for the Dude, one that some might say is more impressive than Joe DiMaggio's:

Woops.

However, his lawyer, Matthew Blit, told TMZ on Friday night that Dykstra will be "swiftly absolved" of the charges against him.

"Lenny .. was merely a passenger in a vehicle that did not belong to him," Blit told TMZ. "Undeniably, the actual driver and owner of the vehicle was taken into custody at the scene under the suspicion of driving under the influence. Lenny was not accused of being under the influence of any substance at the scene, nor was he arrested or taken into custody, at the scene. To the extent charges are brought against him, they will be swiftly absolved."

Dykstra has a laundry list of run-ins with the law, with his most recent trouble stemming from an arrest in New Jersey in 2018 for drug possession and hurling terroristic threats at his Uber driver. 

Following a plea agreement, Dykstra plead guilty to disorderly conduct and the terroristic threats charge was reduced to a misdemeanor.

In 2012, Dykstra was arrested and charged with grand theft auto and drug possession that came with a three-year prison sentence. 

Later that same year, he plead guilty for bankruptcy fraud and money laundering in federal court related to $400,000 worth of hidden assets that he sold after filing for bankruptcy three years earlier. 

Dykstra has also had sexual misconduct charges against him that were later dropped in 1999 when he allegedly harassed a 17-year-old female employee of his car wash. 

He also was accused of sexual assault of his housekeeper in 2011, but no charges were ever filed in that case.


author

Anthony SanFilippo

Anthony SanFilippo is the vice president and editor at large of Fideri Sports which includes OnPattison.com. He has been covering professional sports in Philadelphia since 1998. He has worked for WIP Radio, ESPN Radio, NBCSportsPhilly.com, the Delaware County Daily Times and its sister publications in the Philly burbs, the Associated Press, PhiladelphiaFlyers.com and, most recently, Crossing Broad. He also hosts three podcasts within the On Pattison Podcast Network (Snow the Goalie, On Pattison Podcast and Phillies Stoplight) as well as a separate Phillies podcast (Phightin’ Words). Anthony makes frequent appearances on local television and radio programs, dabbles in acting, directing, teaching, and serves on a nonprofit board, which is why he has no time to do anything else, but will if you ask. Follow him on social media @AntSanPhilly.


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