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
I Could Have Put Some Lame Name Here
July 12th, 2010
12:12 am
No offense but if you haven’t played you can’t understand.
KimZ'sPackage
July 12th, 2010
12:15 am
Played most sports from the 6yrs old until I finished High School. Military High School and College. So, I do know what physical activity at those temps can do to the body evan at those players ages.
I Could Have Put Some Lame Name Here
July 12th, 2010
12:15 am
There is a big difference between running stairs and playing where you get small and immediate breaks in action. A chance to rest, drink, pull your self out, take a knee etc etc
DOGS are moving up in the Standings
July 12th, 2010
12:15 am
One other thing….. If you look at the ALL-TIME FULLMER CUP DYNASTY….. the THUGS at UGA are tied for 3rd and that was with him not having ANY data for UGA in 2009…..
If 2009 is included UGA, it would clearly show that UGA is the biggest THUGA FACTORY in College Football. 4 and 5 start F-UPS. Geesh….
Also BAMA SUCKS TOO – THEY ARE RECENT CHAMPS IN THE FULMER CUP…
Go Tigers….
Irked ERK
July 12th, 2010
12:16 am
These players are just simply being coddled nowadays. Im ashamed of UGA.
HugoStiglitz
July 12th, 2010
12:18 am
Richt fan, are you saying its more of an SEC problem then just a UGA problem? I could see that. In the all time Fulmer Cup standings there are 4 SEC schools in the top 6 and 7 in the top 20. UGA comes in at a solid 3rd.
I Could Have Put Some Lame Name Here
July 12th, 2010
12:19 am
I played all my life through college. When I was younger I would have followed my coach till I puked, but knowing what I know now there is no way I would trust or respect a coach that tried to punish me in that fashion. There are stories every year of kids that die from heat stroke from just that sort of thing.
KimZ'sPackage
July 12th, 2010
12:19 am
Trust me if OUR TROOPS can wear full gear in 120 degrees in the desert then that lil smart butt football player can handle a little abuse for being stupid and selfish.
Wait until the trial....
July 12th, 2010
12:20 am
Just wait…… I am telling you the judge for DAMON EVANS trial delayed said trial until after the start of football season. The judge is a friend of that mega booster Wilson. UGA brass is scared that EVANS is going to blow the lid on known violations and they do not want probation to happen this year…..
Just wait and see….. NCAA regulations don’t allow them to penalize a team until the season after the probation is announced….. this is why there is a delay. Bad times ahead for UGA….
Just wait…..
KimZ'sPackage
July 12th, 2010
12:24 am
Maybe what Richt needs is a good old MARINE DI to help him teach DISCIPLINE and RESPCT.
Maybe delaying probation....
July 12th, 2010
12:24 am
but more likely they are delaying so they can pay Evans to keep his mouth shut.
Steve "The King!" Spurrier
July 12th, 2010
12:28 am
CMR will lead the dogs to another winning season and state championship! Go CMR!
KimZ'sPackage
July 12th, 2010
12:29 am
Wait until: Didn’t delay the trial just didn’t make him show for the formal reading of the charges and to say NOT GUILTY. Most Trials in Fulton County will take 12-18 months to get a trail date if the person is out on bail. If Evans gets a trial date faster than 12 months then he is getting special treatment. If Damon was sitting in a POD then he could request a speedy trial and get a date maybe sooner.
I Could Have Put Some Lame Name Here
July 12th, 2010
12:32 am
Our Troops do a great job at it I have two brothers and a cousin serving now and they complain about those loads all the time but again that’s a different animal.
But I digress, I have to be up early for a meeting. Punish the heck out of them just not during the middle of the day.
Wal-Mart Manager
July 12th, 2010
12:33 am
All you UGA fans better get to bed…. first shift starts at 6AM and I expect you to be on time for work.
LMFAO
July 12th, 2010
12:35 am
Wal-Mart Manager…. classic …. that is funny stuff.
UGA Pride
July 12th, 2010
1:07 am
Everyone in the world knows why UGA always schedules a cupcake for the first game. Get arrested – you get suspended for the first game. Murder or rape someone – then you may be suspended for at least 2 games.
J
July 12th, 2010
1:17 am
Enter your comments here
Kris G
July 12th, 2010
1:28 am
Kim Z, look into the “donation” that athletics always makes to the Dean. Regardless, you can’t fault a self-supporting scholarship because you want a free ride for your mathlete.
Kris G
July 12th, 2010
1:30 am
Also, when we’re talking about football, it pays for all those other sports scholarships that are not self-supporting. Which is every other sport not called “basketball.”
Sue Zimmerman
July 12th, 2010
2:30 am
ABSOLUTELY….give these kids their marching orders…..if they can’t appreciate what has been given to them….they certainly do not deserve it….we want athletes who can not only win games, but also can be rote models for our kids…
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
2:37 am
Let’s be very clear about three (2) items.
(1) Tavarres King DUPED Dontavius Jackson to drive Tavarres King’s vehicle, so that Tavarres King would not get the DUI.
(2) There have been 9 Georgia Bulldogs Players # 1 Recruits and Athletic Directors Arrested / Suspended since the beginning of Spring Practice this year, and 46 since just February 2007, three years. Tavares King who DUPED Dontavius Jackson into his DUI (2), Damon M. Evans (3), Jordan Lawrence Love (4), Christian LeMay never will be allowed in here to UGA now (5), Zach Mettenberger (6), Montez Robinson (7), Trent Dittmer (8), Josh Parrish alcohol arrest suspended (9.)
When David Hale knew he was leaving, he listed 37 from February 2007, which is now 46 since February 2007. This puts us 3rd place Fulmer Cup 2010 and 3rd place Fulmer Cup All-Time which started 2006.
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
2:38 am
(3) THUG Georia tek DE Robert Hall ARRESTED put in Fulton County JAIL for pushing girl into a bathroom, slamming her into door, and into a wall. The girl got the crap beat out of her, her head bleeding with blood on her shirt, treated by Grady EMS. This was June 2010.
liberal arts grad
July 12th, 2010
2:54 am
KING SHOULDNT GET IN MUCH TROUBLE. COLLEGE KIDS DRINKING IS NOT A BIG DEAL. IN FACT, IT SHOULD BE ASSUMED THEY DRINK.
On the other hand, driving while drunk is a big deal…
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
2:55 am
David Hale had a few other choice comments about all the arrests before he announced that he was leaving as Bulldogs’ Beat-Writer.
It remains at a very high rate, more than all but 2 schools in 2010 and more than all but 2 schools since the inception of the Fulmer Cup in 2006. This is NOT the same as at every other school.
“Is it fair to say there’s a real problem with behavior on Georgia’s football team?”
“I probably wouldn’t argue much if you said there was.”
“Regardless of the explanations or justifications, Georgia’s image problem in this regard is largely self-created, and it is something that needs to be addressed and resolved rather than simply explained.”
dagnabit
July 12th, 2010
3:08 am
Steve. You’re right .GO cmr. And take King and Jackson with you.
JT
July 12th, 2010
3:12 am
Maybe I missed something….Race?????? Has not Mark Richt dismissed two white players from the team since the Spring Game. Look at the numbers….How many Black players and White players are on the team…. Look at the ratio and then make some comment….If there is more than 80 per cent of one race on the team…quite possibly there may be more arrested in that group than the other……Nothing Racist here just statistics of numbers happening…..These kids are BULLDAWGS together forget what race they are more than 100 on the team and only seven have been arrested???? Someone talk about the good the other 93 plus have done. Also punishing the whole team is the worst possible non-solution.
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
4:03 am
Dontavius Jackson 4.44 in 40-yard dash 4-Star 2008 Signee from Heard County was DUPED into his DUI by the owner of the vehicle Tavarres King 4.53 in 40-yard dash 4-Star Signee from Habersham Central; both Sophomores Redshirted in 2008. Dontavius Jackson is a great running back, now missing HALF this SEASON because of Tavarres King, who is the SMARTER 1; but in my opinion whatever Dontavius Jackson gets as a direct result of Tavarres King duping Dontavius Jackson into being the 1 behind the wheel while they drive around Athens getting Drunk (Who provided them the alcohol?), Tavarres King also MUST be SUSPENDED for HALF THE SEASON, too.
This is NOT RIGHT Tavarres King, to fool, trick, deceive, con, take in, cheat, hoodwink, swindle, and pull the wool over on unsuspecting Dontavius Jackson – your teammate signed with you.
Tavarres King, you hear me ? It is NOT RIGHT to do that to your teammate. You are JUST AS GUILTY AS HE, maybe more so. You’re 8 months older, so you drive my Chevrolet Avalanche, Dontavius, ok ? Sure. Tavarres King is TROUBLE-MAKER. Dontavius Jackson is responsible for what happened. I see no where where Tavarres King made him stop after the accident; all I see is Tavarres King knew what could happen, and that is the only reason why he then conned fooled and tricked Dontavius Jackson into therefore driving Tavarres King’s vehicle. I am absolutely certain that the Judge will tell this to Tavarres King.
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
4:07 am
1-game suspension for Tavarres King. B.S. Coach Richt. B.S.
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
4:29 am
JT “more than 100 on the team and only seven have been arrested???? Someone talk about the good the other 93 plus have done.”
Of the 220 on the team, including walk-ons since February 2007, 44 have been Arrested / Suspended (not including AD & not including Christian LeMay who has brought us nothing but bad press since the day he made his announcement he wanted then to come here.)
44 of 220.
Where in the living hell did you get this other 93 number from, JT. Do you read nothing, and come running in here posting about that which you have no clue anyway JT ?
20 percent of the recruits to this football program are ARRESTED / SUSPENDED, JT.
It reflects on the other 80 percent JT. Here, Coach Richt gives a way under-substantial suspension to the 1 more responsible for them driving around Athens for the sole purpose of getting drunk in his vehicle. His parents MUST take his vehicle away from him. Instead, he gets off Scot-Free. Coach Richt MUST make this right. This is a team. 1 team member hoodwinks another team member to drive his vehicle so that both can drive around Athens in it and get drunk. What ever happens is his FAULT; it is HIS vehicle. The driver too; but Tavares King MUST be suspended for HALF THE SEASON TOO.
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
4:30 am
Please insert EXCUSES that 1 of every 5 players including walk-ons are ARRESTED / SUSPENDED. This is why we are # 3 All-Time in Fulmer Cup Standings which started 2006; this is why we are # 3 this 2010 season in Fulmer Cup Standings. And, you JT run in here and announce that we are GREAT, that very few get ARRESTED / SUSPENDED according to you.
Are you out of you ever-loving mind, JT ? The other 93 are great. Look, this B.S. on being the third worst college in college football for being Arrested / Suspended reflects on The University of Georgia. It is a Team Distraction. It is reflected on the field averaging # 96 in Penalties EVERY YEAR for the last 4 years. And, it COSTS US GAMES as the # 11 All-Time Program in 1-A Wins yet only # 19 in won / loss record over the last 4 years.
IT IS USED AGAINST US in recruiting.
It is basically all anyone thinks about when they think of The University of Georgia Bulldogs’ Football TEAM.
Mark Richt
July 12th, 2010
4:42 am
Geesh, it’s even getting pretty hard for me to peddle this family values $#@% to recruits and parents. How long are they going to buy this. Hell, it worked for Coach Bowden, well golly! And Ol’e coach Bowden didn’t want to give up his victories even after he was caught cheating. Sounds like family values to me, NOT!
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
5:50 am
No, it is not; not with being # 3 this year in Fulmer Cup Standings, and not family values being # 3 All-Time in Fulmer Cup Standings too, which started 2006.
The real distraction of this all is that Coach Richt has been only 38-14 the last 4 years – good for # 19 in the nation in won / loss records while averaging 21 fumbles a year every year over the last 4 years, averaging # 96 in penalties every year over the last 4 years, averaging 14 interceptions a year every year over the last 4 years and for # 3 in Fulmer Cup Standings as the third worst college in football arrests / suspensions over the last 4 years.
This is WAY TOO MUCH. As much as I and everyone else loves Coach Richt; this will be HIS DOWNFALL for the lack of control of this football team from recruits to daily flub-ups. Our execution performance on and off the field has become the distraction this football program and University no longer can put up with.
BuLLdawg
July 12th, 2010
5:56 am
A no-nonsense A.H. Coach B.H. Coach like Nick Saban would have sat all these guys down years ago, not allowing all these EXCUSES posts by Bulldogs’ fans; and said Look, this is over. If you came here to party, to make excuses, to let your teammates down by not keeping the football, to not learn the rules of the game we gave you your scholarship for and being able to even line up and run the play without penalty, and to take advantage of your teammates like Tavarres King just did, tell me now – and hit the door. We have different team goals than that. I am NOT allowing it. Coach Richt, the Excuse-Makers HERE write, here daily that he is a better person leading UGA Bulldogs’ Football. He is a truly nice guy, they go on – unlike Nick Saban.
Exactly.
He forgives. Maybe the 85 players on the field in Jacksonville with us winning 2 games in 9 tries against them, he didn’t know about; but he did NOTHING about it.
Maybe the recruiting of Montez Robinson in the 1st place no one could have known; but certainly after the 1st arrest, forgiveness was not in the cards for that man by anyone but Coach Richt and Mike Bobo.
And, this total B.S. of 1-game suspension for a guy wanting to go get drunk while driving around Athens in his vehicle is the last straw for me.
I am OFFICIALLY against Coach Richt’s lack of control of this football program on and off the field. I no longer will support these flub-ups while we turn the other cheek, and forgive all involved. Punish Tavarres King properly Coach Richt, please sir.
snapshot
July 12th, 2010
5:58 am
ugag is all about sports not academics and they will let things like this slide. There should be 0 tolerance.
saban
July 12th, 2010
6:02 am
Did they recover anymore underwear?
Understand Vince ended up with the red ones.
TheAntiMe
July 12th, 2010
6:05 am
Enter your comments here
TheAntiMe
July 12th, 2010
6:08 am
Well, they’re just teenage dudes: Young, dumb, and full of… Glory glory to ole Georgia!!!
DawgDude
July 12th, 2010
6:13 am
If we don’t get a new coach in here to create a culture change in our players, our program is going to hit rock bottom!
They are acting like thugs
July 12th, 2010
6:26 am
We have had 40 arrests at UGA. I don’t mind calling people thugs if they are acting like thugs.
Look at the pro athletes. Most of them are sorry beyond belief. Their goals in life are money, hero worship, bedding as many women as they can and doing the drug/booze scene. I don’t even bother to watch professional sports anymore. I am on the verge of giving up on college since the same actions are being played out daily. Fans get up every morning wondering who was arrested last night. 40 arrests in three years … that’s about
fifteen per year on a 100 member team. That’s 15 per cent or 15 out of every hundred players. I will guarantee you that’s much higher than the entire student body percentage at UGA. We’ve got to tighten up and tighten down or we’re going to lose our credibility with parents and recruits and that’s when the program will really lose ground.
1980 Dawg
July 12th, 2010
6:49 am
Coach Richt is doing a fine job. Seriously. He is responsible for 100 plus student athletes who are living away from home for the first time. Every time one of them breaks a rule, there are endless reporters begging for the details so they can write an article for the AJC, etcetera, so they can sell you a paper for $0.50, and get you in a self-righteous uproar. I suspect the behavior of the football team is better than the overall student bodies of most major universities. Granted, the young men will have to face the consequences for their actions, but let us be realistic. Coach Richt will handle this appropriately. The rest of us should mind our own business, and take care of our own lives.
RJM
July 12th, 2010
6:55 am
WPWW Dawg may be correct. A tour at FT Hood might just solve the problem.
Buzz Bandit
July 12th, 2010
6:59 am
I heard GA’s new AD may apply for a liquor license for the UgA Butts Mehre Building, so the players can drink there and not have to drive. That could work if he also has some good music and a lot of hot chicks around to get the players “attention.”
drew gracy
July 12th, 2010
7:00 am
I have lost all respect for Richt. The players should have been kicked off the team! Especially Jackson. What losers
out of control dogs
July 12th, 2010
7:04 am
Hey UGA look on the bright side at least yall still got a chance at Da’ Rick Rogers. If Tennesse lets him go. Under yalls rules he will only have to sit out 1 game !!!
Mitchell
July 12th, 2010
7:14 am
Georgia taxpayers should demand that funding at UGA be reduced until it raises its standards to be more like other states’ quality “flagships” like Cal, Texas, UNC, UVA, Ohio State, etc. – as opposed to the level/legacy that it operates at (more like WVA). The UGA/Flagship legacy:
- Jan Kemp situation
- The Harrick situation
- The fighting with its own foundation over stupid things situation
- The foundation’s sorry endowment (fan/alumni’s pathetic support of the university (not its athletics/thugs))
- Damon Evans
- Joke classes/degrees
- Trashing of campus every game
- Peeing from stands
- Peeing on library
- 40 arrests since 2007
What a proud legacy.
SOS Dawg
July 12th, 2010
7:14 am
Lets face it CMR has become a joke and so has UGA. CMR has not done anything much without Donnan Players and the departure BVG.. Please dont even bring up 2007 which really was a farce which really revealed itself the next year and the next. Its time to tell CMR adios!….. UGA needs new ideas and new blood.
Richt's Butt Cut
July 12th, 2010
7:17 am
Nobody on here ever drank under age while in school in Athens (to those of you who actually went to UGA like me- Finance ‘97? Give me e break. They’re college kids. Our boys haven’t robbed or beaten anybody like the Tennessee players…
jt
July 12th, 2010
7:18 am
The only way to stop these kids from getting introuble is start putting them in athletic dorms and give them a curfew. If you let them stay in their oun apts. this will continue to be a problem.
Dexter
July 12th, 2010
7:27 am
College kids are going to be college kids I guess everyone here made the right choices at the same age as these kids. Maybe CMR needs to put a curfew in place along with room checks to ensure these guys are not out all times of the night.