DETROIT (KRT) – The NBA suspended Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest for the season along with two of his teammates for at least 25 games following the Friday night fracas at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Pistons forward Ben Wallace also was hit Sunday evening with a six-game suspension.

“The penalties issued today deal only with one aspect of this incident-that of player misconduct,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a news release Sunday. “There are other issues that the NBA must urgently focus on at this time. First, we must redefine bounds of acceptable conduct for fans attending our games and resolve to permanently exclude those who overstep those bounds.”

Suspended players are not paid, and cannot practice or sit on the bench during games. Meanwhile, Oakland County prosecutors said Sunday that criminal charges are imminent in the now-infamous Pistons/Pacers brouhaha.

“You never say never, but I can’t conceive that there won’t be at least some charges coming out of this,” said James Halushka, a deputy Oakland County prosecutor in charge of warrants and investigations.

Who will be charged and when the charges will be filed remains undetermined.

Besides Artest, Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal will serve a 25-game suspension and guard Stephen Jackson will be out 30 games. Pacers guard Anthony Johnson was suspended for five games and guard Reggie Miller, who didn’t play, will miss one game for leaving the bench. The players have the right to appeal, but Stern said Sunday night he is confident the suspensions will hold up.

Pistons players Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman all received a one-game suspension for leaving the bench.

Pistons Coach Larry Brown lamented the extended loss of Ben Wallace, but also expressed sympathy for the Pacers’ organization.

“It’s hard to really focus in on basketball,” Brown said. “It’s such a black eye for our league and our sport. I’m sick about that for Indiana. They have a great franchise. They had the best record in the league last year.”

Of Wallace, Brown said, “We lost our heart and soul.”

And while the country questioned the actions of Auburn Hills Police and Palace security, Halushka said there was no reason to take anyone into custody during the Friday night brawl.

“We haven’t seen the police reports, but it seemed like an out-of-control melee and it wouldn’t have made sense to take anyone into custody,” Halushka said Sunday. “You can only keep someone detained for 48 hours if you don’t bring charges and a case. I n a case like this, the investigation may be lengthy.”

Halushka said his office would wait for police to complete their probe before getting involved, but said Pistons and Pacers players most likely will have to give police statements.

“It’s going to take awhile for the investigation to unfold,” Halushka said. “You’re probably talking December before our office even gets it. It’s still at the police level and at the very least; it’s going to be a few days before our office gets involved with the case. I don’t anticipate any charges over this weekend.”

Tom Wilson, president of the Palace of Auburn Hills, said he’s not sure whether security procedures will change.

“That’s one of the trickiest parts; you know , yesterday we were talking about putting canopies over the player tunnels,” he said. “Do you do that so the players are secure? Isn’t one of the special things having players high-fiving on both sides, home and visitors, high-fiving those kids as they run past them?”

Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel, who teaches at various police academies, recently trained Palace security in crowd control and the use of force. He emphasized a technique called “verbal judo,” in which security guards use non confrontational methods to defuse tense situations. Palace security guards do not carry weapons, he said.

“In my opinion, that’s a difficult expectation for a player to run into the stands and start whaling at people haphazardly,” Hackel said. “It is completely inappropriate to blame the Palace security.”

During the fight, three Pacers – Artest, Jackson and O’Neal – punched Pistons fans .

Artest and Jackson fought with fans in the stands and O’Neal traded blows with the fans who rushed the basketball court.

Artest also punched a fan when he returned to the court.

Officials called the game with 45.9 seconds left, with the Pacers leading 97-82, as pandemonium erupted during a nationally televised game.

It began when Artest fouled Ben Wallace in the back during a lay-up attempt. Wallace retaliated by shoving Artest’s face with both hands and charging at him before players and coaches intervened.

While Wallace shouted and threw a wristband at Artest, Artest lay down on a TV broadcast table with his hands behind his head.

A fan then threw a plastic cup with a beverage at Artest and Artest charged into the stands. Jackson followed and craziness ensued.

Mike Ryan of Clarkston, Mich., said Artest attacked him, assuming Ryan threw the beverage.

“He asked, “Did you do it? Did you do it?’ I said no and he started pummeling me,” Ryan, 26, said. Ryan’s father, Patrick, said Sunday that the family has been advised by an attorney to decline further comment.

Alvin Shackelford of Burt, in Saginaw County, approached Artest on the court and Artest, in turn, slugged him.

Shackelford declined comment Sunday on advice of an attorney.

Jim Schneider, 50, of West Bloomfield said he saw Artest fighting with Ryan and tried to back away when Jackson entered the stands.

“I suppose when I saw Jackson flailing, there was some fear,” Schneider recalled Sunday. “I’m thinking, “My God, what is happening here ?’ “

Schneider and his friend Richard Sallen got pushed into the fray, and Sallen hurt his shoulder. He was treated at the Palace and released.

Schneider said he’s got tickets to the game against the Miami Heat on Friday, but is not sure whether he will attend.

“I’ll go if I get a promise from the Palace and security that this will never happen again,” he said. “I enjoy basketball. I don’t enjoy what happened. “

Auburn Hills Deputy Police Chief Jim Mynsberge said one person was taken to the hospital, but no one was seriously injured.

No one was in police custody Sunday.

“The tape will be reviewed and there will be a full investigation,” Mynsberge said Friday. He added that police also would interview players and fans.

Hackel said he saw no reason to take anyone into custody Friday.

“The police are doing the right thing by taking a step back to make sure they have all the right information,” he said.

Auburn Hills police declined further comment Sunday, except to say that the case remains under investigation.

If police recommend criminal charges, prosecutors will decide what action to take. Those charged will then face court arraignments.