STRAWBERRY FOUND AT HOSPITAL, ARRESTED

Even with his arrival hours before at a local hospital, the four-day
disappearance of baseball star Darryl Strawberry remained shrouded in
mystery late Monday.

The day began with reports - apparently generated by Strawberry, the
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said - that the former New York
Yankees outfielder had been kidnapped and was being held for $50,000
ransom. It ended with Strawberry being arrested at the St. Joseph's
Hospital at 8 p.m. Monday night, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies said.

Strawberry, 39, had been missing since leaving a residential drug treatment
center late Thursday. The eight-time All-Star is serving two years of
community control and one year of probation.

A warrant was issued Friday for his arrest.

Friends said they were concerned - Strawberry has colon cancer and has told
a judge he had considered suicide.

Strawberry arrived at St. Joseph's Hospital with several unidentified
people Monday afternoon.

``The search is over and Darryl is OK,'' said friend Ray Negron, a
Cleveland Indians consultant. ``We've put him in a hospital to make sure
he's taken care of.''

There was no immediate explanation as to Strawberry's whereabouts or
actions over the past four days.

As the new baseball season got into full swing Monday, law enforcement and
corrections officials had fielded calls from reporters around the nation
asking about Strawberry's latest troubles.

The sheriff's office was investigating reports that Strawberry told a
family member and an acquaintance he was being held for ransom.

At least one report placed him in Orlando, which was news to authorities there.

``I don't know how we got into the middle of this,'' said Sgt. Angelo
Nieves, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office. ``We don't have
any Darryl Strawberry sightings here.''

Strawberry was arrested in 1999 for drug possession and soliciting a
prostitute.

He was sentenced to probation, subsequently tested positive for cocaine and
was sentenced to community control.

Strawberry was suspended from baseball for a year following his failed drug
test.

He then was arrested in November for leaving a drug treatment center to
smoke crack cocaine and pop antidepressants. A judge sent him back into
treatment over prosecutors' objections and ordered him to wear an
electronic monitor.

The monitor on Strawberry's ankle emitted a signal to probation officials
when he left the treatment center Thursday. However, the monitor didn't
indicate his location.

Prosecutors said Monday they would again seek prison time for Strawberry
for the latest in a string of violations.

He could face up to five years behind bars.

Joe Papy, regional director of the state Department of Corrections, called
the disappearance ``extremely surprising,'' saying Strawberry had been
staying drug free and in therapy.

Tribune staff writer Stephen Thompson and The Associated Press contributed
to this report.