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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
601 comments Add your comment
Stinger
July 11th, 2010
8:15 pm
How many plays will they be suspended? Two, maybe 4 or 5??? Just wondering how strict CMR will be with these two bumbs.
buzz is wiser
July 11th, 2010
8:16 pm
Ok I’d be the first to say that I don’t care about the Georgia program being successful but when I saw the headline I expected Richt to suspend them for the first game against whatever D-I AA school you guys played; but this article started with the tailback getting 6 games. Initially I said WOW, Richt finally shelling out some discipline. I want call these kids thugs, I wonder how many times you individuals calling these COLLEGE students thugs drink and drive now and if you did go to college how many can honestly say you didn’t drink until 21. But this punishment is a joke, it’s right out of the Bobby Bowden book of discipline. The starting receiver suspended for the first game against La-Lafayette (i think), and don’t give me that it can be more, he’ll play in the S. Carolina game. This Jackson kid playing tailback where is he on the depth chart, I saw you guys run the ball down our throat on the flats and Jackson wasn’t one of those two backs. This punishment is a joke and will show itself again in the fall when UGA is 118th in penalties. After the Evans debacle these guys need to be kicked off the team and on the way to play for Valdosta State or some other prominent D-II program and you “dawg” fans know I’m right.
Travis McGee
July 11th, 2010
8:16 pm
They ought to be kicked off the team, if for no other reason, they’re too immature and dumb to be away from home.
Truth
July 11th, 2010
8:16 pm
UGA announces that all stadium seat season tickets will now cost $100 more in order to begin a lawyer defense fund for its players.
Kris G
July 11th, 2010
8:17 pm
And you’re all still looking in the wrong place: What’s different about UGA is that it’s in Athens. Athens cops are a different breed… like the lap dogs that yip at you and don’t shut up. If Athens cops were universal, MIP arrests wouldn’t be news. And these columns wouldn’t exist, because we wouldn’t be pretending that drinking at 19 makes you Charles Manson.
dawggirl
July 11th, 2010
8:19 pm
I doubt Jackson plays a down this year. He’ll be too out of shape and too out of practice to earn any playing time.
Randy Marsh
July 11th, 2010
8:19 pm
Bradley sounds like he needs a few drinks. Their scholarships aren’t paid by taxpayers, but by the athletic association, which is a private organization. College kids drinking? Unbelievable!!!
Jim
July 11th, 2010
8:20 pm
There are only two kinds of people who drink and drive – those who have been caught and those who have not yet. How many of us were guilty of MIP? This is a problem but it is not the end of the world as we know it. The penalties seem about right to me. No one likes this kind of thing but if we kicked everyone out of school for underage drinking, they would have to close the school down too. Easy does it here.
Kris G
July 11th, 2010
8:20 pm
Buzz is Wiser – you’re not paying attention. The backup tailback who’s out for a minimum 6 games got a DUI. The starting receiver who only got 1 only got a charge for underage possession. I really think there’s a world of difference between those two charges.
dawgfan
July 11th, 2010
8:22 pm
This isn’t the jaywalking/spitting on the sidewalk kind of stuff that our players are usually busted for. DUI=Don’t let the door hit you in the azz on the way out. Underage possession=MINIMUM six game suspension.
I’m sick of this crap.
Big L
July 11th, 2010
8:23 pm
Let’s accept the first fact. KIds in college drink. They need to have a small group who can be called to help these kids out. Meetings with the team about drinking. So maybe some of this can be nipped in the BUD before it becomes front page . Just start talking to these kids and figure out how to handle it.
seriously folks
July 11th, 2010
8:23 pm
A couple of initial thoughts:
1) If I were fan of another school (Team A), wouldn’t it be in my team’s best interest to scream “throw the bums off of Team B”… giving Team A a competitive advantage. All of you on your self-righteous horses please get down.
2) These are kids. I am all for throwing bad apples out if they are ruining the entire bunch, but seriously… calling everyone thugs for getting a DUI or minors in possession of alcohol!?! It marginalizes the commenter. The percentage of students that participate in the Athens nightlife that are under-aged is also rather significant. I was there, served of the student judiciary, remember the case load of kids that got tickets for being stupid, and paid the mortgage at East West and Bissetts for 3 solid years before I turned that golden number 21, too.
2a) The guys with handguns or those that have 10 guys beating up on one… those guys definitely qualify. Feel free to pile on there.
3) Stupid move guys. I am certainly not excusing a DUI or a minor in possession of alcohol, because most cops in Athens let it go for all students until you bring something that endangers others. There is certainly a lesson to be learned. Take a cab, be an adult. It used to cost $3-4 bucks when I was there. Decisions have consequences and they should be thankful that nothing else more serious happened. Vehicular homicides cost much more than just a couple of games.
Lonely Truth-teller
July 11th, 2010
8:25 pm
UGA coveted the success of the Criminoles, hired their coach and became the Criminoles. CMR has been a joke holding players out of the Western Kentucky-type games for being arrested over the years. The AD, head coach and even President Adams need to be removed or UGA will continue to be the laughing stock of college athletics and academics.
Tired of Drunk Bulldog Fans Being Two-faced
July 11th, 2010
8:25 pm
A huge contingent if the fan base gets tanked at the ball games, but you want your players to be better??? Come on!!! GA FAns are a buncha d r u n k s!!!
KimZ'sPackage
July 11th, 2010
8:26 pm
Kris G how old are you? A Police officer is a police officer n o matter where or what town. Some are better than others, but if you don’t give the police a reason to mess with you then you will be fine. The hazing work during my years in Military High School and College. Our teachers and coaches didn’t have to mess with 1 kid. The teacher F..ed with the whole class or team and that trouble makers bed, brass, or drill would be better by the next morning thanks to some ENCOURGEMENT for other members of the class, team, or squad.
buzz is wiser
July 11th, 2010
8:27 pm
Kris I agree there is a difference, personally college kids drinking is no shock to me at all and actually should probably be expected but after the Evans situation and college kids drinking too much anyway (underage) I just think he should make an example. You’re right, the receiver shouldn’t be removed from the team but Jackson should be gone and King should get more games. We just hear this story too much, it occurs at least twice a year. I think it just places the program in a negative light when underage drinking breaks once a semester.
Bradley
July 11th, 2010
8:27 pm
Once again. Anyone who is drinking and driving while on an athletic scholarship needs to be dismissed from the team. It only takes once to drink, drive and then kill someone. In this case, one player was driving and the other player was letting him drive his vehicle. What would have happened if he would have killed someone? Would you be arguing to not let either of them off the team? When it comes to drinking and driving their is no reason for it. To many families in this world have been heartbroken by a 20 year olds stupidity. Once you become one of those families you will never understand. And to sum it all up we are talking about kids on football scholarships. It wouldn’t be the end of the world for them to lose their scholarship and learn a lesson and then maybe begin to understand the meaning of work by earning their way back. There are thousand of other athletes who would die to have that spot and they would do a better job. If the talent drops then I would approve considering we have better quality people that will mean more in the long run.
dejaytee
July 11th, 2010
8:27 pm
the award for being stupid, in the hard head category…. goes to these two after all the hoopla with their AD last week.
Hayseed Dixie
July 11th, 2010
8:28 pm
The culture at UGA, as displayed by Evans, Jackson, King and countless others, was not created overnight, and it won’t be solved overnight, least of all by a softie like Richt.
UGA has had National Championship calibre money, facilities, lack of scruples and fanbase for decades now.
Dboy Jones
July 11th, 2010
8:29 pm
To all the bloggers. Its deeper than what ya’ll know with the Athens Clarke County police. The athletic dept stop letting the officers in the games for free about 2 or 3 yrs ago. When I went and played for UGA the officers got in the games free and they actually looked out for us when we was out at bars. They were very friendly. Even escorting us back to campus when we did get wasted. The players arent doing anything different than we did its just that we were not targets like the players are now. There is a disconnect between the law informant and football team. With that being said the players have to be smarter.
average joe
July 11th, 2010
8:29 pm
Randy Marsh, I think the point Bradley was trying to make was those kids on a full athletic scholarship should appreciate what they have. I am paying for my second kid to attend UGA so lets see…that’s about $17,000 a year times 8 years…you do the math, but it’s a lot of $$$. And I know all to well a soph is going to drink, but these knucklehead football players should understand the will be held to a higher standard, and they should! Just use some dang comman sense is all I ask!
Don't Hate
July 11th, 2010
8:31 pm
Hey RJ,
Don’t hate because all of those big money athletics are African-American and so is your President of the United States.
So in other words, we run this Country.
barneyb
July 11th, 2010
8:32 pm
Love you, Bradley! Amen, brother! 20-year olds or not, they have no business getting the gift of a free ride when they act like this. Period. Contrary to some posters here, not all colllege kids drink or drink & drive. Give somebody a $100,000 college education, they darned sure better live up to it.
BUZZ SAWYA
July 11th, 2010
8:35 pm
” I knew it was coming again before toe meets leather, you idiots can’t go one summer without screwing up. CMR better make a” Real” show for punishment or the next screw up will seriously damage your smelly program. THWG!
Jenzen
July 11th, 2010
8:37 pm
Of course we who went to collage did take of the spirits and yes, many of us drank to much at frat parties, etc. BUT, as in my case (and many, mny others) I dared and feared) not let my drinking get out of hand that I might be kicked out of school for partying (drinking and other unhealthy things), ’cause I knew what my old man would do. I still be standing up in stead of sitting down. My generation respected our parents (and 95+% of my schoolmates had two parents to contend with). The sheer embarrassment to my parents in front of their friends in church and elsewhere would be too much for them.
Times (and youth) have indeed changed.
Big L
July 11th, 2010
8:37 pm
Hey don’t hate, I bet you hate a cracker too. Let other people be trash. Don’t jump in the can with em.
Tired of Drunk Bulldog Fans Being Two-faced
July 11th, 2010
8:40 pm
D GURL jones,
Ya gotta B kiddin me! You dork!!!
You think the problem is there is no more special treatment for a bunch of entitled drunk punks who dont care about living by the rules the rest of us live by!?!?
heyberto
July 11th, 2010
8:40 pm
So far the punishment seems to be appropriate. Don’t agree they should be kicked off for a single offense, and Jackson is clearly on thin ice with a 6 game suspension for a repeat offense. I think CMR is handling this just fine and appropriately.
MI
July 11th, 2010
8:41 pm
It appears that even Tennessee knows how to discipline, but UGA still has yet to learn that one judging by the events of the past two weeks.
That’s really scary. And sickening.
One more reason why Richt has to go. he should have left when Damon Evans did. Until Richt goes, be prepared for a lot of bad publicity and continued headlines you don’t want to see.
Vick=Dog killing Thug
July 11th, 2010
8:42 pm
Make a rule starting tomorrow… You get arrested your suspended for the year. No if’s and’s or but’s
Let King slide with a 1 gamer and 4-6 for Jackson as he was driving.
snellville jacket
July 11th, 2010
8:42 pm
While it hurts the players and their team mates; in the long run it hurts every fan of college football.
Did they just give up thinking anymore? Does it take dismissals to get the players attention regardless of what team they play for?
james
July 11th, 2010
8:44 pm
god is a god of a second chance. we would all go to hell if we did not get forgivness. these are inmature kids.some of our kids are drunken thugs and we know it and cant stop them from drinking.cmr cant control your kids drinking habits. the problem is all over uga not just football.
Some Sense
July 11th, 2010
8:46 pm
What on earth is a nice Lebanese girl doing hanging out w/ trash like this???
This is why
July 11th, 2010
8:47 pm
Mark Richt will Never win a National Championship. He doesnt have the guts to send a strong message to these players with character issues. Jackson should have been kicked off the team while king should be suspended for the entire season.
TheWad
July 11th, 2010
8:48 pm
Send them both home, maybe they will learn enough to prevent the worst possible nighmare from actually happening in their future. The Dawgs have enough talent to do without anybody and the problem will have an immediate new dynamic. Caught in any alcohol offense with a car(riding or driving) and you go home for one season.
Saint Mark
July 11th, 2010
8:49 pm
The amount of retards on here is sickening. Tavarres King drank and some of you are calling for him to be dismissed, all I can do is LOL @ that. And I even saw one idiot say Richt has to go, even bigger LOL.
Tired of Drunk Bulldog Fans Being Two-faced
July 11th, 2010
8:50 pm
ALL of UGA has a drinking problem, its not just the players. DRUNKS, DRUNKS, DRUNKS!
AU H8ER
July 11th, 2010
8:51 pm
There is nothing finer in the land than a drunk obnoxious Georgia Fan/Football Player. That is your own chant there Bulldogs, you might want to refrain from yelling it for the next few years.
AU H8ER
July 11th, 2010
8:53 pm
/Athletic Director.
dawggirl
July 11th, 2010
8:53 pm
Ignore the troll, everyone.
Yussef
July 11th, 2010
8:54 pm
Richt simply lacks the integrity and fortitude to tell his players “Shape up or ship out.”
It’s that simple.
KimZ'sPackage
July 11th, 2010
8:54 pm
Punishment for 1st Arrest: True Freshman is arrested you sit out a year(12 games). If that is red shirt no problem. Redshirt Freshman arrested you still sit out a year(12 games). Soph. arrested you sit 6 games. Jr. or Sr. 3 games.
2nd Arrest: off the team no matter who you are.
Bust them hard and early and they will not mess-up later. Jr. & Seniors are older and should be smarter, but they have spent years doing it right ahd deserve a chance not to ruin their future when it is so close. A missing 1 game as a Senior could be huge if that player is going Pro; muchless 3 games.
ryan
July 11th, 2010
8:57 pm
Well when new AD gets here wither its Mcgarity or Hart if CMR does not clean this up or get to the Dome his job is overe because the new guy will bring in someone who will fix the problem.
Lilburn Dawg
July 11th, 2010
8:57 pm
Whether the offense is considered minor or not…..they both need to go if Richt ever has a prayer of making any kind of impression. I was glad Dooley kicked Myles off the UT team and Rogers needs to go, too. Richt and Dooley could make a stand and maybe begin turning things around in the SEC with this sort of behavior if they have the guts. I don’t know that either one does. Maybe some think MIP isn’t that big a deal, but it’s what it conveys…….total lack of respect for their authority-figure and supposed “boss”. If Dooley and Richt tell the players “Do Not Drink Any Alcohol and Stay Out of Bars” and they brush it off then they deserve to be kicked off the team for lack of ability to follow instructions/orders. It’s the fact that they won’t do as they are instructed as it is the offense that symbolizes the disrepect for rules and being able to “do the right thing”.
Casey
July 11th, 2010
8:58 pm
Why do players take so many risks with alcohol. There is alot of people who would give anything to be on a the team and they go and risk it like that. Even the AD how stupid was that? If they are that dumb they shouldn’t even be in college.
Serge
July 11th, 2010
8:58 pm
Atlantan said it best: “CMR needs to get control of the players. He has turned out to be a phony like Bowden when it comes to institutional control. I hope the next AD has some some cajones to actually take steps to end this consistent embarrassment every year. Being the champion of the Fulmer cup is nothing to brag about.”
Richt has to go, and soon.
Big Boys Dont Cry !
July 11th, 2010
8:59 pm
CMR doesnt have dawg nuts to discipline these thugs. He is gone after this season. Mark it down!
Tired of Drunk Bulldog Fans Being Two-faced
July 11th, 2010
9:01 pm
Look in the mirror puppy nation, It’s not the players, it’s the drunken nature of it’s underachieving fan base!
Stinger
July 11th, 2010
9:02 pm
Just shut the program down.You are the laughing stock of America.
harold
July 11th, 2010
9:02 pm
GEORGIA HAS HAD 40 ARRESTS SINCE 2007.