Two other UGA players named, not charged, in police report (UPDATED)
UPDATE, 3:45 P.M. MONDAY:
ATHENS — Two teammates of arrested Georgia football players Dontavius Jackson and Tavarres King are named in the UGA Police Department’s report on the weekend incident.
Cornerback Branden Smith was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Jackson but was the only one of the five people in the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche not arrested because he “was determined to have not been drinking,” according to the police incident report obtained by the AJC today.
Also, an identification card issued to Vance Cuff, a Georgia cornerback, was found on a female passenger in the vehicle and taken into evidence, according to the incident report. Cuff was not in the vehicle.
The report said Jackson, who was arrested on DUI and five other misdemeanor charges, “admitted to having consumed 2 shots while downtown” after initially telling police he had not consumed any alcohol. Jackson “appeared to not be trying to provide a sufficient sample” on the breath test, according to the report, and told police during a field sobriety test that a left knee injury affected his balance. The report said Jackson “stated that he had rear ended another vehicle” moments earlier.
King and two other passengers, not UGA athletes, were arrested on charges of underage possession of alcohol.
POSTED 7:33 P.M. SUNDAY:
The two Georgia football players arrested on alcohol-related charges this weekend were suspended from the team Sunday night by coach Mark Richt.
Backup tailback Dontavius Jackson and starting split end Tavarres King have been suspended indefinitely from all team activities, Richt said. More specifically, Richt said, Jackson will be required to sit out at least the first six games of the season — half of the schedule — and King will miss at least the Sept. 4 season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Richt said he is still gathering information, which could lead to additional penalties.
“I’m disappointed in their decision-making and lack of judgment, and they will both pay a stiff price,” Richt said in a statement. “All our players need to understand that it’s a privilege to be a Bulldog, and their conduct needs to reflect the standards we expect.”
Jackson and King were arrested early Saturday after their vehicle was pulled over by UGA Police. Jackson, 20, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, underage possession of alcohol, following too closely, leaving the scene of an accident, violation of the move-over law and violation of learner’s permit. King, 19, was charged with underage possession of alcohol. Two other passengers in the vehicle — not UGA athletes — also were charged with underage possession of alcohol. A fourth passenger was not arrested.
The alcohol-related arrests of Jackson and King came just days after UGA athletics director Damon Evans resigned in the aftermath of his June 30 DUI arrest in Atlanta.
Jackson and King are the sixth and seventh Georgia football players arrested this year.
UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson told the AJC that Jackson and King were arrested after a series of events on East Campus Road early Saturday morning.
Williamson said two patrol cars were at an unrelated traffic stop when a vehicle — later determined to be driven by Jackson — passed at an inappropriate speed and failed to move over. As one of the patrol cars began pursuit of Jackson for allegedly violating the move-over law, a third officer put out a radio report of an incident moments earlier in which a vehicle had left the scene of a minor accident after rear-ending another car. The description of the vehicle that allegedly left the scene of the accident matched the one being pursued for the move-over violation, Williamson said.
When the vehicle was pulled over, Jackson was driving and had four passengers, Williamson said. Police determined the vehicle had damage consistent with the earlier accident. There were no injuries in that accident, Williamson said.
The vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, is registered to King, Williamson said.
- More details on the arrests are here.
- And go here if you’re ready to talk some (on-the-field) Georgia football.
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601 comments Add your comment
DarkCloud
July 12th, 2010
12:51 pm
THuga. All ya need to say. The rest of us laugh at your pathetic institution of higher drankin’
How2fish
July 12th, 2010
12:52 pm
Joe Fan sorry I respectfully disagree UGA is an educational institution and football factory period end of discussion. If you don’t think I’m right just monitor these blogs for a couple of months and see all the heck CMR catches for not winning a NC yet..listen to all the Bama and UF fans who deride us for settling for 10 wins a years as opposed to NC’s. CMR is not the man change that sorry he is paid to win football games and in that he does a great job I also think he does a great job helping young men grow into good men.But if he does win football games he is out of a job..face it the vast majority of the SEC,ACC, Big Ten and Pac 10 schools put a huge degree of interest on winning football games..because that funds other sports and help the institution as a whole. If CMR could turn the UGA program (which he can’t) into the academic leader in the nation in 2 years and posted losing records those years..he won’t be the football coach in year 3. The same goes for Meyer, Saban etc.
College Football Fact Checker
July 12th, 2010
12:53 pm
Let’s get this out now…the B.S on here about “we all drank alcohol in college, it is college kids being college kids”..the biggest difference is now with the instant news coverage, de-regulation of college athletics( dorms, dining halls, limited practice time etc..) that decision made by these kids must be checked and re-checked, and verified and re thought about it. These kids are now on television every week, and with blogs, facebook, twitter, my space, camera phones….better decisions are now demanded…and expected….
When something goes against your school whether it be a recruiting violation, bad press, coaching issue, etc….excuses are made…..crying begans and rocks are thrown at every one else to make yourself feel better and make you feel like your program is doing fine…The problem with UGA is all the press since the season ended is ALL BAD PRESS…and it is self generated. STOP coming up with a fake CUP, TROPHY, HEADLINES to make yourself feel better.
UGA is in disarray and it starts with the Leadership at the top, we have seen what happened when the leadership make poor decisions at UGA…TOTAL CHAOS……
Instead of spending 3 hours on saturday BARKING AND WOOFING…hand out Alcohol Preventiveness and Drug Awareness literature…..do you UGA fans who bark all game long, pre-game, post-game understand how embarrassing you make the rest of us feel at bowl games, away games etc…..I am totally embarrassed by the excuses, leadership, failure to control the program, wins, losing attitude…..TIME to right this ship….We are now a middle tier program in the SEC…the truth hurts….
How2fish
July 12th, 2010
12:56 pm
DarkCloud look in the mirror quick…you’ll see a huge tool looking back!
AltamahaDawg
July 12th, 2010
12:59 pm
Actually Joe, UGA is an educational institution, but UGA football team is a football (issue). Completely different issues here. They will deal with the regular punishment as a “college student” same as anyone else.
Are you saying that UGA (as an education institution) does not hold thier football player accountable to the same academic and behavior standards as every other student?
Admissions…. now there is a difference perhaps. But I don’t know if SAT scores and GPAs of incoming freshman has proven to be the leading indicator in drinking inclination. Do you have that research handy?
What exactly are you saying?
Mark
July 12th, 2010
1:08 pm
It’s hell when your job depends on a bunch of drunks.
Greensboro, GA
July 12th, 2010
1:09 pm
.
……NESBITT for HEISMAN
.
Double Standard
July 12th, 2010
1:09 pm
It is interesting that Richt gives out different penalties when it is clear that they are both just as guilty…. sure Jackson was the one caught driving, leaving the scene of an accident, etc… but did he kidnap King and stuff him in the trunk?
NO, King knew exactly what was going on and was in the car the whole time. King could have prevented the whole thing by not duping Jackson into driving….. King was at least smart enough to get Jackson to drive and take the risk…. but that right there is what makes it obvious to the world that Richt has a double standard for his starters….. Anyone with a brain can see that King had just as much power to stop it as Jackson….. The poor Jackson kid is just the scapegoat.
Hey Dawgs… a goat…. remember when that used to be your Mascot…… look out here comes the UGA billy goats….
jerry
July 12th, 2010
1:10 pm
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, children. My daddy can whip your daddy. Fu-king morons.
KimZ'sPackage
July 12th, 2010
1:12 pm
Yes, I drank underage in college, but I never got arrested. 1 bad choice not followed by more bad choices. Wait, the Phi Mu chick I did @ Rose Ball while drunk was high on the COW meter. Hey, Pretty but fat girls are the “IN Think” now.
uuugh.
July 12th, 2010
1:13 pm
Hugo…What if he did?
What if I win the lottery. What if ‘Press Your Luck’ wasn’t the greatest game show ever? What if the guy in the cubicle next to me suddenly explodes?
He didn’t…so your point is moo.
(moot is misspelled on purpose…before I see 50 Spelling Bee champions correcting me)
How2fish
July 12th, 2010
1:13 pm
College Football Fact Checker you can hand out all the lit you want, college kids aren’t buying it. I don’t care that kids are under more of a magnifying glass now than 20 years ago ..there still 18-20 year olds. We would have made at least as many mistakes as they are..good grief get over your self. Every year we hear the hand wringing the finger pointing etc. In the 60’s college kids drank…in the 50’s, 70’s , 80’s etc etc etc…cease the crocodile tears and offer a solution…and not Leadership, Get tough, etc something that will work..personally I opt we lower the drinking age to 18 and 1st time your caught drinking and driving or drinking and violent..you get kicked out of school…period, student or student athlete..one rule for everyone.
DIT
July 12th, 2010
1:13 pm
Jackson should be booted from the team and King should have the 6 games suspense at LEAST!. Man, this is getting so old! These kids need to get their act together. It’s down right embarrassing. Living in Tampa, not only do I have to put up with losing to UF the past 2 years, now this.
To condemn the entire University on the behalf of stupid decsions made by football players is ludiris.
Now is the time that the incoming Seniors need to get off their tails and show some leadership.
GTBuzz
July 12th, 2010
1:28 pm
UGA wins again!!! UGA 3 to 2 over UT
Both schools have 2 players arrested but UGA wins hands down by adding in their AD!
EJ
July 12th, 2010
1:31 pm
Here’s the police report, for anyone interested:
http://www.redandblack.com/2010/07/12/police-report-ugas-jackson-admits-drinking-downtown-hitting-car-third-football-player-in-car/
Papadawg
July 12th, 2010
1:32 pm
I keep thinking about the Big Bad GT player arrested for hitting a GIRL
Mark Seminole
July 12th, 2010
1:34 pm
Guys, I’m an FSU grad from the Dynasty years. We had isolated incidents that granted us various nicknames but NEVER the number of alcohol related incidents that have been rolling out of UGA for the past 3-4 years. DUI’s can kill somebody, getting free shoes doesn’t. Quite honestly, Thugs are guys that have power and abuse it. Punks are powerless and stoopid. That makes UGA players punks in my book
reality
July 12th, 2010
1:35 pm
Keep making excuses UGA fans…sure this happens at all colleges…it just happens MUCH more frequently at UGA…leadership starts at the top…M Adams needs to go.
We ruin this state
July 12th, 2010
1:48 pm
UGA UGetArrested
We ruin this state
July 12th, 2010
1:50 pm
Papadawg
July 12th, 2010
1:32 pm
I keep thinking about the Big Bad GT player arrested for hitting a GIRL
Isn’t that one of the things Montez Robinson was guilty of????
DurkaDawg
July 12th, 2010
1:54 pm
If these sorry morons played at a different school in this state, they would have been suspended indefinitely until the charges were resolved. This should be a complete embarrassment to the school and program. Chalk it up to youthful indiscretion and things incidents continue to happen.
Papadawg, your stupid. Girlfriend beater was immediately released from the team until charges are resolved, and by that I mean, off the team unless proven guilty. That would NEVER happen at your POS program! Remove the spec from your lens.
AltamahaDawg
July 12th, 2010
1:54 pm
Double standard. You don’t hand out punishment based on what you suspect or what coulda shoulda. You do it based on the facts. Cops don”t press charges based on what somebody might have done, Its what they did do. Football coaches don’t hand out suspensions based on when they think somebody might have been “just as quilty” and then they think they others weren’t, but hit wit the same charges. Otherwise THAT would be a ….???? A doub…….Come on you know this one.
By your logic, even when a player doesn’t not get charged whatsoever, Richt should suspend them anyway because they “probably” were guilty.
We ruin this state
July 12th, 2010
1:55 pm
Check this out, this is only from 2005-6/15/09.
GEORGIA (30 arrests)
Michael Lemon (aggravated battery)
Justin Anderson (simple battery)
Trinton Sturvidant (simple battery)
Blake Barnes (furnishing alcohol to a minor)
Tripp Chandler (minor in possession of alcohol)
Brandon Wood (DUI)
Kelvin Perez (DUI)
Vince Vance (knowingly driving with a suspended license)
Donovan Baldwin (DUI, reckless driving)
Fred Munzenmaier (underage possession of alcohol)
Jeff Henson (public urination)
Clint Boling (DUI)
Jeremy Lomax (reckless driving, possession of a concealed weapon without a license)
Matthew Prick (underage alcohol possession)
Tanner Strickland (fake identification)
Paul Taylor (battery)
Shane McCleskey (battery)
Akeem Hebron (underage possession of alcohol)
Antonio Sims (DUI)
Ian Smith (public intoxication)
Marquis Elmore (driving with a suspended license)
Dannell Ellerbe (DUI)
Kedrick Golston (disorderly conduct, bar fight)
Derrick White (disorderly conduct, bar fight)
Tavares Kearney (simple battery)
Derrick White (DUI)
Zeb McKinzey (underage possession of alcohol)
Darrius Swain (driving with a suspended license)
Michael Turner (possession of less than an ounce of marijuana)
Rennie Curran (theft, taking a parking boot worth $350)
DurkaDawg
July 12th, 2010
1:55 pm
you’re**
Not that you would have noticed the typo.
DurkaDawg
July 12th, 2010
1:57 pm
We run this state, I believe there has been 10 more since that date in 09
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
July 12th, 2010
1:57 pm
Hey! Just a reminder….
((((((((((((((((((((((((41-17))))))))))))))))))
We ruin this state
July 12th, 2010
1:59 pm
@ DurkaDawg
I’m sure you’re right, they’re hard to keep up with!
ms
July 12th, 2010
2:01 pm
I will say again, UGA stands for usually getting arrested!
scott
July 12th, 2010
2:01 pm
So here is my favorite part…I’ve read several posts about all of UGA being drunks…quite the statement. I would like to examine that fine technical institute in Atlanta. Ive been to tech, in the middle of the afternoon, on a wednesday, and seen multiple people rip roarin’ drunk at about 2pm. Not just one but quite a few. There was no game to tailgate for no finals to celebrate being over etc. It was mid semester and mid day and they were plastered so before UGA gets called a bunch of drunks you best be examining your own institution. Jackson needs to be sent packing. DUI regardless of age is stupid and everyone knows it kick his sorry a$$ off the team. I have walked many a mile because I was to intoxicated to drive. King on the other hand, should be suspended for a few games maybe forced to do some comunity service and attend a dui class, but being busted for MIP at 20 is not so big of a deal. The drinking age should be lowered to 18 anyway or the draft age should be raised to 21, but thats for another day. Most, not all, 20-year-old college students will drink its part of the college experience. If you don’t believe me go to any state funded university on a thursday night and start checkin id’s. Its commonplace and generally accepted as a part of “the college experience”. Have a great Monday everyone and GO DAWGS!!!
AltamahaDawg
July 12th, 2010
2:02 pm
Hard to keep up with the UGA football program, for a guy that spends everyday of his life studying it? really?
We ruin this state
July 12th, 2010
2:05 pm
scott
July 12th, 2010
2:01 pm
I would like to examine that fine technical institute in Atlanta. Ive been to tech, in the middle of the afternoon, on a wednesday, and seen multiple people rip roarin’ drunk at about 2pm.
And you went up to each one you saw, and asked to see his GT ID, right? Give us a freakin break!!!!
cadawg
July 12th, 2010
2:06 pm
are people not reading? the punishments are provisional– king has been suspended for “at least” one game, and jackson for “at least” 6. these punishments can and very well may change once more information about the incident becomes available. CMR is waiting to make a final decision until he has a chance to learn about what, exactly, went on. to all who want to blame CMR for this, please note that he has already kicked two kids off the team this spring. damon evans was also forced to resign.
all this is very embarrassing, i agree, but CMR is right not to hand down draconian penalties until he understands everything about what happened. this is what he did with mett, and everyone applauded him for that. so just calm down and see what happens.
UGA = Clemson = Perennial Underachievers
July 12th, 2010
2:06 pm
scott
your ATHLETIC DIRECTOR got a DUI and had the red panties of a woman who is not his wife in his lap
….and not even 2 weeks later UGA player gets a DUI and another gets a MIP…
Stop with your “Ga Tech has drunkards and inebriates too” argument. Just stop it. You’re embarrassing yourself even further.
UGA has their pants down and egg on its face…and red panties on.
There’s no comparison. Your university is a complete embarrassment..
Fair and Balanced
July 12th, 2010
2:09 pm
“Disappointed”? Dang it Richt – GET MAD! Cotton pick it! You’re making me mad that you can’t GET mad!
JB
July 12th, 2010
2:19 pm
College students drink and drive? That is the craziest thing I have every heard of. Let’s be serious, if it were Joe Frat boy, they wouldn’t kick him out. People need to realize that these athletes are normal kids who make bad chocies…… they just happen to have more athletic skills than most of you guys. Let him serve his punishement and move on. Don’t throw the book at them. Some of these kids need to be part of GAfootball more than GA football needs them. If he messes up ahain…..time for him to go.
scott
July 12th, 2010
2:19 pm
I never said what they did was right or tried to justify it in anyway im just sayin that 20-year-old college students drink at any institution and as for the AD he was just as stupid as Jackson nothin more to say about that. Im believe that anyone pulled over for DUI should be thrown under the jail, but people need to get off their high horse and quit pointing fingers we all know that college students drink underage at every school; UGA, Tech, Bama, Auburn, Clemson and so on. Just because they live in Athens doesn’t make it any worse than living in Atlanta. It’s comparing oranges to oranges just change the names and the city and you could arrest a college kid for MIP or DUI any night of the week. IMO there is plenty of comparison.
scott
July 12th, 2010
2:22 pm
Something has to be done to fix the DUI issue, its out of control. Thats the most important issue.
DurkaDawg
July 12th, 2010
2:26 pm
This is a pattern Richt has. It has nothing to do with “getting all the facts.” The punishment depends on whose up the next weekend. If it’s UF, a half game suspension will do, if it’s west nowhere state, a full game will do. Do your research. Richt is not a disciplinary, if he was he wouldn’t have the ginormous number of arrests while head coach that he does. Seriously, how can that many people get in so much trouble in Clarke County.
And to the idiot talking about Tech drunkards…if you spent a day in the life of a Tech student, you would be drinking at 2pm too, and you would be smart enough to do it and not make the front page news. Daily student affairs at a school where school is more than 4 years of recess is completely different than having football players being arrested for MUIs and DUIs at 2pm on a Monday afternoon (if you’re confused, check the archives, it was only a month or so ago).
L-Dawg
July 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
*** THUGS is a racist word. ***
It’s no different than Negro.
But, those that used it already knew that, right?
DurkaDawg
July 12th, 2010
2:42 pm
L-Dawg, your off your rocker. Stop race baiting.
Gt4ever
July 12th, 2010
2:44 pm
Outstanding Idea, Howtofish…… 18 years old is an adult….. It’s really this simple, if you drive and drink, your going home. Richt will not do this because he has NO spine….
UGAstudent
July 12th, 2010
2:47 pm
I am currently a student at UGA and am sick of players being arrested for preventable crimes! These players have their college education paid for and get to play for one of the best football teams! Instead of being grateful they are out disrespecting the Bulldog nation! Enough is enough! scout players who ACTUALLY want to gain an education and represent the Univeristy in a positive way!
L-Dawg
July 12th, 2010
3:00 pm
Uh, DurkaDawg, it’s ‘you are’ not your. And, I don’t think you know what race baiting means.
DurkaDawg
July 12th, 2010
3:05 pm
ah, L-Dawg…you ARE right. I typo-ed again! See above. At work…sneaky sneaky gets me in trouble typing quickly. And I do know what race baiting means. Thug is not racist…and your team is full of thugs.
Charles
July 12th, 2010
3:12 pm
The only way you will ever get the message across to these young players is to show their is zero tolerance for those that have no sense of what their actions do to the rest of the team. Kick them off the team. There is no place for these types in any program… Please spare me the ” They are only young kids and they should not loose their scholars.” As Harold notes 40 players have been arrested since 2007 and no one knows how many more have not been caught.
scott
July 12th, 2010
3:31 pm
A drunk is a drunk is a drunk regardless of where you go to school…if your work load causes you to use alcohol as a crutch then you have this disease called alcoholism its a tough one. I never mentioned a word about Richt’s disciplinary actions if you would read my post I’m pretty sure I suggested he be removed from the team for his DUI so yes I believe a six game suspension is a soft punishment. Finally, DurkaDawg, you saying that its ok for Tech students to be drunks because they have a tougher work load is just the same as saying its ok for actors to use drugs because it takes the edge off their lives. There is no excuse.
The Georgia Sports Report
July 12th, 2010
4:25 pm
Is Coach Richt’s Model Flawed?
http://gasportreport.blogspot.com/
shane#1
July 12th, 2010
4:55 pm
CMR does not need to let this become a distraction, his focus needs to be on what’s best for the team. I wouldn’t kick Jackson out, I would suspend him the six games and put him on the scout team. Seeing him at practice in his scout team jersey would do more to get the team’s attention than kicking him out. Besides, we can see how he likes going against the first string D with Red shirts and walkons blocking for him. you know that Rambo and the rest will trash talk the hell out of him. Let him transfer if he so chooses. Demote King to third string WR and give his reps to the young guys, like Wooten and Brown. A few extra reps would not hurt Durham either. These guys work for a starting slot, on the scout team Jackson’s chance of starting before next year is nil. I would make it known that anyone that gets in trouble looses his slot in the rotation.
Michael Hutts
July 12th, 2010
5:14 pm
What’s a bunch of wusses at UGA- always getting in trouble for drinking alcohol. At Tech, we play hardball- we shoot smack, heroin baby!
Pookadoprelanderschitzel
July 12th, 2010
5:30 pm
OK, how does underage possession become MIP? Can someone explain? Thanks.