Out of the clear blue sky, the Washington Nationals  unconditionally released Elijah Dukes today. Dukes was slated to be the teams starting right fielder, but now he is no longer welcome in D.C. There is also that “special” kind of silence surrounding the whole thing which makes on think perhaps Dukes finally pissed off the wrong person. Federal Baseball is attributing a quote to former Nats GM Jim Bowden mentioning “the latest incident,” but nobody seems to know what that means.

Dukes does have the police blotter resume to be the next in a long line of talented headcases. From the St. Petersburg Times:

• Hillsborough deputies were called to break up a fight between Dukes and NiShea Gilbert on Dec. 8, 2003, shortly after the birth of their child. According to an arrest report, Dukes threw a remote control at Gilbert and was arrested on an assault charge. Formal charges were never filed.
• He was arrested again on Dec. 25, 2003, and accused of obstructing an officer without violence. Prosecutors allowed him to enter an intervention program.
• On Oct. 12, 2004, Dukes was charged with misdemeanor battery. The case was never prosecuted.
• He was arrested again on a charge of battery on Jan. 18, 2005. He did not contest the charge and the judge withheld adjudication, sentencing Dukes to one year probation and $549 fine.
• According to the Tampa Police Department, one of Dukes’ ex-girlfriends filed a sworn request for prosecution against him on Jan. 24, 2005. The ex-girlfriend, Zanquesha L. Jefferson, told police that Dukes choked her with his right hand and forced her into a chair. He squeezed her cheeks while demanding a kiss, the records show. The outcome of the complaint could not be determined Wednesday.
• Dukes’ most recent arrest was in January, when he was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. He pleaded not guilty.

Frankly, not all those following Nats baseball were shocked by this development…