Texas CB and Safety Arrested

[abrnfanatc 6]

Ice Cream anyone?

This situation sounds very familiar. It will be interesting to see how Mack Brown handles it, especially on the heels of their biggest game this year.

2 Longhorns, 1 former player arrested

Starting cornerback Tarell Brown, backup safety Tyrell Gatewood and former linebacker Aaron Harris are arrested after traffic stop; marijuana, loaded handgun found in car.

By Suzanne Halliburton

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Texas' game-week preparations for top-ranked Ohio State suffered a setback Monday when starting cornerback Tarell Brown and backup safety Tyrell Gatewood were arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges.

Brown also was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, a Class A misdemeanor.

Deborah Cannon

2005 AMERICAN-STATESMAN

(enlarge photo)

Texas cornerback Tarell Brown — shown making a tackle against Colorado last October — and teammate Tyrell Gatewood were riding in a car driven by former Longhorn Aaron Harris when they were stopped by police at 2:48 a.m. Monday, according to a probable cause affidavit.

(enlarge photo)

Aaron Harris Admitted he'd been smoking marijuana, according to affidavit.

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Texas coach Mack Brown said in a statement that the two would be withheld from "all team functions as we gather as much information as possible before making a team decision." Their status for Saturday's game against top-ranked Ohio State is uncertain.

Former UT linebacker Aaron Harris also was arrested.

Austin lawyer Jamie Balagia is representing Brown and Gatewood. He said the two met with Brown after they were released from jail Monday and explained their sides of the story. They also were drug-tested at the school to show that they were not smoking marijuana.

"It was a weird set of circumstances," Balagia said. "When the facts come out, this will be resolved pretty quickly."

According to a probable cause affidavit, the three were picked up in a traffic stop on north Interstate 35 at 2:48 a.m. Monday. The document stated that Harris was driving Gatewood's car. Gatewood — who was sitting in the front passenger's seat — and Brown, who was in back, were asleep.

Deputies said Harris was swerving. He was pulled over, and a drunken-driving unit was called to evaluate Harris. He passed field sobriety tests but admitted he had been smoking marijuana and that some of the substance still was in the car, the affidavit said.

Deputies found a small marijuana cigarette in Harris' pocket. They also found a "blunt" cigar containing 1.1 grams of marijuana under the driver's seat.

When deputies came back to the car, they noticed that Brown and Gatewood still were asleep. The handgun was in Brown's lap.

Balagia said the three were heading home after visiting friends. Brown and Gatewood are roommates. Harris, a three-year starter who finished his eligibility, is back in school to finish his degree. He is staying with Brown until he can find a place of his own, Balagia said.

Balagia said Gatewood owned the gun, which he described as "recreational," one that had been used for target practice about two weeks ago. Balagia said Gatewood had forgotten to take the gun into his apartment and Brown, noticing that the gun was on the floor, picked it up and set it beside him.

"He thought he'd put it beside him, but evidently, he put it in his lap," Balagia said. "Think about it: the police are outside, and Tarell has a gun in his lap. No criminal mind would be asleep (in that situation) with a gun in his lap."

If convicted on the gun charge, Brown could face a fine of up to $4,000 and/or one year in jail. The marijuana charges can be punished by a fine of up to $2,000 and 180 days in jail.

This is the second time Austin authorities have investigated an incident involving both Brown and Harris. In December 2004, the two were sitting in Harris' pickup outside a UT dormitory when someone shot out the driver's side window. University police investigated for several weeks but did not announce any arrests.

Brown, considered the Longhorns' best cover cornerback, was set to have a significant role in the defense of Ohio State Heisman candidate Ted Ginn Jr., who caught four passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns last week. Brown played about half of Texas' 56-7 season opener against North Texas last Saturday and made six tackles.

If he does not play Saturday, his place in the secondary would be taken by a combination of players: junior Brandon Foster, sophomore Ryan Palmer and junior Erick Jackson.

Gatewood is used primarily on special teams. He played on Texas' punt return and kickoff coverage teams Saturday, registering one tackle.

THE ARRESTS

Cornerback Tarell Brown was arrested on misdemeanor gun and marijuana charges Monday. Backup safety Tyrell Gatewood and ex-teammate Aaron Harris also were arrested.

THE RESPONSE

Coach Mack Brown is holding Brown and Gatewood

out of all team activities in advance of Saturday's game against Ohio State.

THE IMPACT

Tarell Brown would be sorely missed. The starting cornerback likely would've drawn responsibility for covering Buckeye receiver Ted Ginn Jr. Gatewood is a backup safety/special-teamer.

shalliburton@statesman.com; 445-3954

[Texan4Auburn 1,626]

Won't play this weekend, and won't do anything with the team until court decesions are made.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2574915

[jumbo 0]

Won't play this weekend, and won't do anything with the team until court decesions are made.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2574915

So he cant play wow that is a crazy concept.....he should transfer to Bammer so he can have an ice cream cone!!!!!

[aubrandon 5]

Glad to see Mac Brown dishing out the discpline. Let's see something here, Auburn, Tennessee, Miami, Georgia, and Texas (I'm sure that there are more schools) all suspended players for breaking the law. Here we see some of the big boy colleges handling discpline right. Anyone not see a middle of the road team on here.

[abrnfanatc 6]

Glad to see Mac Brown dishing out the discpline. Let's see something here, Auburn, Tennessee, Miami, Georgia, and Texas (I'm sure that there are more schools) all suspended players for breaking the law. Here we see some of the big boy colleges handling discpline right. Anyone not see a middle of the road team on here.

C'mon, give the Good Humor, er, um, Coach Shuler a break. He handled it in-house with a scoop and cone.

[wareagle1985 0]

Charges dropped against some of the UT players.

Link

Misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession against two suspended UT football players were dropped by the Travis County Attorney's Office on Friday, according to a statement by Travis County Attorney David Escamilla.

Escamilla said former linebacker Aaron Harris accepted responsibility for the marijuana, allowing the charges to be dropped against suspended cornerback Tarell Brown and suspended backup wide receiver Tyrell Gatewood.

"It was the right thing to do," said Jamie Balagia, attorney for Brown and Gatewood, "We commend the county attorney for his prompt and responsible action."

Brown's charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon and Harris' marijuana posssion charges remain, according to the statement.

Earlier in the week, both Brown and Gatewood passed drug tests administered by the University.

Charges for resisting arrest will not be filed against the two football players, Balagia said. The sheriff's department would not comment on the development, said spokesperson Roger Wade.

Brown and Gatewood were arrested early Monday morning when sheriff's deputies pulled over the car they were riding in. Harris, who was driving the car, and both football players were charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor. Brown was found in possession of a 9mm handgun when he was arrested and was charged with carrying an unlicensed handgun, a Class A misdemeanor.

Balagia said the firearm charge was undergoing review, and "we are confident that [the charge] will be dismissed upon completion of that review."

Controversy erupted when the sheriff's department revealed both football players had been tasered during their arrest, which had been omitted from the affidavit for warrant of arrest and detention. The use of the stun device was unnecessary because Brown and Gatewood had done nothing to resist arrest, Balagia said.

[AUartlady 19]

Yeah, Shula suspends Hall for breaking team rules, but not Simpson for something even worse. Sears and Blackmon are out for LSU as well. Tuberville is a true disciplinarian, you better obey the law or you will pay!