Gainesville PD = Tuscaloosa PD?

[Tiger in Spain 0]

State drops charge against Florida's Joiner

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - State prosecutors dropped a felony burglary charge against Florida safety Tony Joiner on Friday, clearing the way for the senior to play at top-ranked LSU.

Joiner was arrested around early Tuesday for allegedly trying to take his girlfriend's car out of a towing company's impound lot.

Spencer Mann, chief investigator for the State Attorney's Office, said the charge was dropped because the towing company "believes it's a big misunderstanding."

"The victim is adamant that he sustained no loss or damage and does not wish to pursue criminal charges," Mann said. "Based on that information, we cannot sustain a criminal charge. Without a victim, I have no crime."

Joiner practiced with the ninth-ranked Gators on Wednesday and Thursday, and coach Urban Meyer said if the felony charge was dropped or reduced to a misdemeanor, he would be eligible to play.

"Tony being out late on Monday is not consistent with the expectations of a leader and a team captain of our football program," Meyer said in a statement. "Tony is no longer a captain of the Gator football team and he will pay a heavy price for his behavior internally for the next four weeks. He will travel with the team for our game vs. LSU."

According to the Gainesville Police Department, Joiner pushed open an electric gate, got into the car and started to drive off. When Joiner stopped to close the gate, he was confronted by a witness who called police.

"We believe GPD conducted a proper investigation and made appropriate decisions based on the facts they had at the time they responded," Mann said.

Shortly after Joiner's arrest, towing company owner Stan Forron said the player had arranged to pay the bill and pick up the car. But Forron said no one was around to take Joiner's money, so he must have thought it was OK to take the car and settle up later.

Give him an ice cream cone