Caleb King’s status on team unclear after arrest (updated w/ Richt comments)
(Updated 9:10 p.m.)
Two days after Georgia’s football team won its first game in more than a month, the bad news resumed for the Bulldogs: The team had its 11th player arrested this year.
Tailback Caleb King spent about six hours Monday in the Clarke County Jail on a bench warrant issued after he failed to appear in court in Walton County to address a speeding ticket.
By late morning, King was released on $380 bond, which officials said would be used to satisfy the speeding fine. But how the issue will affect his status on the Georgia team remains unclear.
Coach Mark Richt did not make an announcement or meet with reporters Monday. He discussed the issue on his weekly radio show Monday night but did not say what action he will take.
“Getting a speeding ticket, not paying it and not showing up for a court date is certainly not a very responsible thing, but I can’t say it’s some kind of awful act that we all should just be ashamed of,” Richt said. “But certainly … all of these young men have to understand they have a responsibility to take care of whatever issue they have.
“If they have a ticket, they need to pay it. If they don’t [pay it], they need to show up for the court date. Those things are certainly obvious, and we have to get better at those kinds of things.”
Later, Richt referred to the King situation when asked if freshman running back Ken Malcome might play for the first time.
“There’s a good chance that happens,” Richt said. “We’re not saying for 100 percent certain he will, but the situation that Caleb has gotten himself into and the fact that [tailback] Carlton Thomas’ hamstring may or may not be ready by the end of the week, it may be that Ken has to play.”
To another caller who said he hopes King is not kicked off the team, Richt replied: “We’re just going to do what we feel like is the right thing to do. Bottom line is, we’ve got to make sure everybody takes care of business.”
Of the 10 players previously arrested this year, Richt dismissed four from the team and, in most of the other cases, issued suspensions of at least one game. King’s is the first case involving failure to appear in court for a speeding ticket.
King was arrested by Athens-Clarke County Police after his brother, Brandon King, was pulled over in east Athens around 4 a.m. Monday for driving without a working tag light, according to police spokeswoman Hilda Sorrow. The stop of Brandon King triggered a series of events that led to the discovery of the outstanding warrant for his brother.
First, Brandon King, 23, was placed under arrest when it was determined he was driving with a suspended license, police said. Then, officers asked Brandon King to call the owner of the vehicle he was driving, a 1996 Ford Explorer, and have it picked up.
The vehicle’s owner, Georgia football player Brandon Wood, arrived at the scene five minutes later and was accompanied by Caleb King, according to police. Officers checked the two players’ licenses and discovered the outstanding warrant from nearby Walton County for Caleb King’s arrest. He was booked into the Clarke County Jail shortly after 5 a.m.
Walton County Sheriff Joe Chapman said the warrant had been issued by a judge after King, 22, failed to pay a fine or appear in court in connection with a speeding ticket this past summer.
King received a citation June 20 for driving 76 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone on Highway 78, Chapman said. The warrant was issued by a judge after King failed to appear for an Aug. 6 court date.
King was released on bond from the Clarke County Jail at 10:45 a.m. Monday. His $380 bond will be used to pay the speeding ticket, an official with the Walton County Sheriff’s Department said.
Two players said King participated in Georgia’s practice Monday evening.
King’s arrest was the second of a football player since UGA President Michael Adams last month called on the athletics department to deal with the proliferation of arrests.
“We have had too much in the football team,” Adams said in a Sept. 18 interview. “And so we expect the coaches and the AD’s to provide role models and leadership for their players, and I told the whole Athletic Association that” in an early-September staff meeting.
King’s arrest was his second since joining the Georgia program. In 2007, he was arrested by UGA Police for driving a motor-scooter with a suspended license and going the wrong way on a one-way street.
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923 comments Add your comment
Old Dawg Fan
October 11th, 2010
8:54 pm
I am a full believer that Richt has lost this team in the “respectability” category HOWEVER this is a speeding ticket he didn’t take care of. How many of us have made this mistake??? The majority of us are not expected to be on the “job” literally 24/7. Stupide mistake-Yes, Kick off the team or sit out a game-NO. We have more problmes than this to deal with!!!!!!! Different thing than leaving the scene of an accident or drinking and driving.!!!!!
munsondawg
October 11th, 2010
8:55 pm
Scott,
Did you know that in the short span of just 2 yrs. in order to become a first time season ticket holder the points balance was dropped from $10,000 to a little under $2,000 for a person to receive first time season tickets.? That shows that demand is fading bigtime. Events both on and off the field are truly turning tons of people away. You cant give tickets away to this abortion of a team and season.
Jim007
October 11th, 2010
8:55 pm
This is King’s second arrest !!
What is Richt doing, three strikes and you are out for starters only ???????
Dawgs are FSU North & a TOTAL Joke !
gtforever
October 11th, 2010
8:57 pm
I caught some of the mark richt radio show. He was talking about the CK incident…. Coach is already back peddling. What a NOODLE spine your coach has…… It’s NO wonder whey your football team is in such a MESS!
SRS
October 11th, 2010
8:57 pm
Dorsey Hill ”’Obama used cocaine, pot, alcohol just as W did, only difference is W b ecame a succesful businessman while Prezbo became a community organizer
———————————-
This has nothing to do with your comments so don’t take this the wrong way…and I know I’ll regret going here but…Georgia W never “became” anything. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and never had to work hard day in his life. He is the equivalent of a trust-fund-baby. And intellectually speaking, Bush is a mental midget compared to Obama. Coincidentally (or not), most regressive southerners voted for him twice. Go Braves!
BIG BEE
October 11th, 2010
8:58 pm
If he forgets to pay a traffic ticket, what makes you think he can remember the play book?
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
8:59 pm
Clean house, I guess you have never been on that stretch of hwy, have you? they did not issue a ticket for reckless driving, only speeding.
Granted he should not have been going 21 miles over the speed limit because I guess he didn’t know that area is a speed trap, that’s the reason why I do 64 on that road, because you are certain to have a police waiting for you.
Imma Dumbgafan
October 11th, 2010
8:59 pm
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
8:51 pm
“…not to mention the reason he got in Yale, he pretty much failed out in college…”
Oh really? And how do you “pretty much failed out in college”? Know what W’s investment was in the Texas Rangers? And what he got when he sold? Moron.
gtforever
October 11th, 2010
8:59 pm
and then you have morons like SRS…….
Imma Dumbgafan
October 11th, 2010
9:02 pm
SRS must be a Community Organizer.
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:02 pm
munsondawg , yes the demand is low because the product has underperformed,not becaue of the arrests, hence why you can walk in stegman coliseum and sit wherever you want.
Call in show....
October 11th, 2010
9:03 pm
Richt also made a jab about the empty seats, something to the effect that it’s a two way relationship and coming out seeing empty seats impacts the players. Only other interesting comment was in response to a ? about what he tells recruits, basically he said they’re told if they don’t behave appropriately they get consequences. That was disappointing, I was hoping to hear something more in line with we have the highest expectations and while we’ll give you guidance and help you grow, but if you screw up here you will pay a serious consequence. Probably unrealistic to say that to a recruit but still was hoping to hear a hard line on infractions.
Gumpdawg
October 11th, 2010
9:03 pm
Caleb King is Stupid and dumb as a box of rocks…..
georgiagirl
October 11th, 2010
9:04 pm
Oh my God no one on here never had a ticket. AJC why don’t you find something to write about besides speeding ticket, under age drinking, how about Fla Gators, text messages going to kill their girlfriend, AK 47 going off in a crows of people, stealing dead people credit cards.
A speeding ticket is not a reason to kick someone off the team you people must all live in glass houses. You all act as if you never anything wrong, I had a speeding 25 years ago when I was young. All you can do is throw stones at everyone, this team needs to tell the bandwagon fans what boat to get on. REALLY AJC always trying to find something wrong with Georgia. I don’t need to read this sH!! anymore. True fan signing off from all the do gooder on here.
jdawgs34
October 11th, 2010
9:05 pm
Whats amazing is the car was stopped for no lights for tag…ok, how many really do have lights…every car has something to stop them for…this is getting bad over there…
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:06 pm
Imma Dumbgafan
October 11th, 2010
8:59 pm
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
8:51 pm
Oh really? And how do you “pretty much failed out in college”? Know what W’s investment was in the Texas Rangers? And what he got when he sold? Moron.
You pretty much fail out because your daddy keeps making calls to keep your ass in, thats how.
The Texas Rangers, wow anyone that invest in a sports team is set to make money when they sale, There is not one Pro basebase team that an owner did not make money when he sold a team.
fred
October 11th, 2010
9:07 pm
it’s apparent coach bobo can’t coach stupid
Bull
October 11th, 2010
9:07 pm
hee hee hee. It just keeps getting better and better.
georgiagirl
October 11th, 2010
9:08 pm
I watch the cops everyday where I live in the county waiting to get the school kids on one road and they get about 5 a day. So I guess these kids need to be kick out of school. Speed traps going on all other the state, better watch out your next
Bull
October 11th, 2010
9:09 pm
“speeding ticket is not a reason to kick someone off the team you people”
FAILURE TO APPEAR, Moron. Just like BJ Clinton,LYING UNDER OATH.
georgiagirl
October 11th, 2010
9:10 pm
No lights around my tag on my 2007 4-runner I guess I will get a ticket
Gumpdawg
October 11th, 2010
9:11 pm
Economy is bad for the one horse towns. Better be on your P’s and Q’s cause they all need revenue and will give you a ticket….
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:13 pm
Georgiagirl, I got stopped for the same thing on one of my cars, funny thing is the police officer just told me that I didn’t have a light on the tag and went about his way, no drivers license check or anything.
Imma Dumbgafan
October 11th, 2010
9:14 pm
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:06 pm
“You pretty much fail out because your daddy keeps making calls to keep your ass in, thats how.”
And I’m sure you have proof or a link for this accusation?
Dumb= GA Fan
Dumber= Obama supporter
Rocky Mountain Bulldog
October 11th, 2010
9:15 pm
King should be punished, but we don’t know all of the facts of his case, yet.
Richt will have to come down hard, but I don’t think he should be booted off the team.
He is not the smartest apple in the bunch, though.
The 2011 recruiting class will make or break Richt, if he survives all of these arrest and win loss issues, this year.
Florida Dawg
October 11th, 2010
9:19 pm
I think the problem started at driving around at 4AM….why is Calab King going out at 4AM too? I understand to help his brother but really…wait until a decent hour so you might have a chance of staying out of jail.
Aaron11
October 11th, 2010
9:19 pm
Going to be interesting to see who is going to run the ball. CMR may have no choice but to take the redshirt off of Malcome anyone one know the status of Carlton Thomas
Aaron11
October 11th, 2010
9:20 pm
With this Coach Richt may have no choice but to take the redshirt off of Ken Malcome so we have some RBs
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:22 pm
Imma Dumbgafan
October 11th, 2010
9:14 pm
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:06 pm
“You pretty much fail out because your daddy keeps making calls to keep your ass in, thats how.”
And I’m sure you have proof or a link for this accusation?
Dumb= GA Fan
Dumber= Obama supporter
Yes, its in the open records act, check out gpa. And yes I’m a proud supportor of UGA.
Dawg Poop
October 11th, 2010
9:22 pm
This arrest is way overblown as are the other 10 arrest. Just let them boys play!
astrouga
October 11th, 2010
9:22 pm
Please Richt, kick him off the team!
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:24 pm
Imma Dumbgafan, I forgot Bush had his records sealed so no one can see them.
Oh Obama’s records are available though.
astrouga
October 11th, 2010
9:26 pm
Kick King off the team. We don’t want people like this representing our school. There are plenty of good running backs in the country that obey the law.
80Dawg
October 11th, 2010
9:27 pm
Tech fan, is life at Tech so bad you just have to rejoice when we have problems. I am glad to say that I never give your program a second thought.
Snoop
October 11th, 2010
9:27 pm
Pleeze! Richt has not kicked anyone off the team, except the poor 5th stringer. Montez was in jail on a serious charge. When Richt couldn’t cover up Mettenburger’s sexual battery, he was forced to kick Mett off by Adams, who was in the middle of his campaign for NCAA Czar. This is King’s second arrest. At least he got a driver’s license after the first one. These players are morons. As long as Richt coddles them, Georgia will continue to lose games and disgrace the university.
LHardingDawg
October 11th, 2010
9:30 pm
Snoop’s an idiot.
Imma Dumbgafan
October 11th, 2010
9:33 pm
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:24 pm
Imma Dumbgafan, I forgot Bush had his records sealed so no one can see them.
Oh Obama’s records are available though
You have it backwards. W’s GPA was released years ago, and people like you were claiming John “why the long face” Kerry was soooo much smarter than W. Well, come to find out, W’s GPA was higher than Kerry’s.
Obama’s are NOT available.
LifeLong Fan
October 11th, 2010
9:35 pm
Richt has no comments?????????? He recruited the bum. Did he not tell the young adult the rules up front? Or did the “coach” talk about finacial rewards to the player of selling one’s jersey?????? Or the benefits of going to bars and screwing around? And driving drunk?
Same thing, eleventh verse. It finally caught up with the Cum Bah Yah coach AND US HOPEFUL FANS.
Fire the bum coach if that’ what one calls him.
Semper Fi
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:36 pm
Imma Dumbgafan
October 11th, 2010
9:33 pm
scottlarock
October 11th, 2010
9:24 pm
Imma Dumbgafan, I forgot Bush had his records sealed so no one can see them.
Oh Obama’s records are available though
You have it backwards. W’s GPA was released years ago, and people like you were claiming John “why the long face” Kerry was soooo much smarter than W. Well, come to find out, W’s GPA was higher than Kerry’s.
Obama’s are NOT available.
You are right he did release his GPA, which was a 2.35 in college, but I don’t remember saying anything about Kerry, Hum.I think I said Obama.
Browndog
October 11th, 2010
9:36 pm
CK made a mistake but he does not deserve to be dismissed from the team. CMR will administer appropriate punishment, which will not satisfy at least 50% of those posting comments about this article.
Florida Dawg
October 11th, 2010
9:39 pm
If King doesn’t understand and remember you have to pay a traffic ticket or it only gets more expensive, how does he remember the play book?
Why are these people out driving with a suspended DL at 4AM. Is that not stupid?
I mean…how dumb can you possibly get. And for King to GO with this guy at 4AM…isn’t that dumb too under the circumstances? Even if he is clean…why would a UGA football player be out at 4AM??????
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
October 11th, 2010
9:41 pm
Enter your comments here
David77Dawg
October 11th, 2010
9:42 pm
UGA Football program NEEDS A NEW STANDARD. IF YOU get arrested, YOU ARE SUSPENDED AT LEAST ONE GAME. The trouble is CMR is NOT “Man Enough” to implement such a policy!
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
October 11th, 2010
9:42 pm
Richt has to go! No more excuses!
woodie
October 11th, 2010
9:42 pm
I think King should sit out the 1st qtr against Idaho State…
David77Dawg
October 11th, 2010
9:43 pm
Such a new policy SHOULD get each player’s attention!
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
October 11th, 2010
9:44 pm
By the way, the program is the laughing stock of the nation!
dodgecountydawg
October 11th, 2010
9:46 pm
bout time that Richt “Finishes the Drill ” and suspends King for the rest of the freaking season!! and why ?? he’s got to make an example out of a “name” player or he’s going to become a joke.. Making these “kids” run extra , obviously is NOT having the desired affect.. Ealey can get the job done at Tailback ,but so what, it’s time for Richt to ” Finish the Drill “”
Mcdawghna
October 11th, 2010
9:46 pm
Please correct me if I’m wrong but was’nt it Vince Vance who had the motor scooter incident a couple years ago for the exact same charge or did Caleb do the exact same thing?….Just wondering if I’m losing my mind…
Look in mirror
October 11th, 2010
9:49 pm
You people need to READ before responding.. Its a tag light not a tail a big difference. So the headlights from the officers car couldn’t see the tag? Why stop someone for that? Im sure the officer could have been stopping criminals while on that wasted traffic stop. All of you calling for the young man to be kicked off the team must be PERFECT. I don’t know the reason for him not showing up for court but with school, football practice, games, dealing with trainers yeah just maybe he could have forgotten. Youngsters are irresponsible and make mistakes just like ADULTS. If it was your child would you suggest the same action? I doubt it.