Howe Arrested On Gun Charge

Steve Howe, released by the New York Yankees two days ago, was arrested Monday on charges of carrying a loaded gun at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Howe was found to have a loaded .357 Magnum pistol in his luggage at the first-class check-in for a Delta flight to Whitefish, Mont., at 4 p.m., said Tom Middlemiss, a Port Authority spokesman.

A Port Authority police officer spotted the unlicensed pistol in Howe’s carry-on baggage, Middlemiss said.

“She opened up the bag and found a loaded .357 Magnum,” Middlemiss said.

Howe is being charged with criminal possession of a weapon and was to be arraigned Monday night or Tuesday in Queens Criminal Court, Middlemiss said.

Howe was suspended from baseball seven times for various drug-related problems.

The 38-year-old left-handed reliever was cut before the Yankees’ game against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. He was traveling with his wife, Cindy.

Strawberry in hot water

Darryl Strawberry missed a Monday deadline for paying $300,000 in overdue child and spousal support, prompting a court commissioner to set a trial date for the eight-time All-Star.

Strawberry, 34, who is playing for the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League, is charged with “willful failure to provide,” a misdemeanor. He could be sent to jail for a year if convicted.

Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Mark Goldman said Strawberry agreed in April to pay $300,000 by Monday to his ex-wife Lisa to avoid criminal prosecution.

“We had worked out a possible settlement… . Unfortunately, he did not comply with the terms of the agreement,” Goldman said.

Municipal Court Commissioner Joseph Biderman set a July 5 trial date for Strawberry, who did not appear for Monday’s hearing.

Milton Grimes, Strawberry’s attorney, acknowledged that his client had agreed to pay $300,000 but his current $2,000-a-month salary is not sufficient to meet his obligation.

“Mr. Strawberry, hopefully, will gain employment within the major leagues in the near future, which will enable him to pay a substantial amount of the support,” Grimes said.

Honors for Morris

Jack Morris, who is playing in the independent Northern League in an attempt to return to the majors, was selected the league’s pitcher of the week.

Morris, who hasn’t pitched in a regular-season game in the majors since 1994, won both his starts last week for the St. Paul Saints. He didn’t allow an earned run in 13 innings, lowering his ERA to 2.86.

Darryl Strawberry, who is also playing for the Saints, leads the Northern League with 10 home runs. He is batting .378 and has driven in 27 runs, both among the league leaders.