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
Harry from da Burn
October 11th, 2010
5:29 pm
Yea name the only two guys you know who did something bad. Yea we had one guy who was trafficking a crap ton of marijuana. What did Reggie do? And we didn’t have to vacate any wins buddy, we got it back. UGA has no standards in players, its obvious, look at the 80 arrest this past decade. I’m not even mentioning Damon evans.
Shane
October 11th, 2010
5:30 pm
If alot of these players were white you wouldn’t be hearing as much about this either.
There is a racist undertone at work here.
Hopefully King will avoid death row for a speeding ticket.
Red face Dawg
October 11th, 2010
5:30 pm
Shane, its not just a speeding ticket anymore. It would have been just a speeding ticket if he had paid it, but now its a failure to appear. He is saying , in other words, screw you, I don’t have to deal with this because of who I am. Another case of a lack of character. He should go and take MR with him. UGA has a serious problem, and they are an embarrassment to the state.
Helsing
October 11th, 2010
5:30 pm
You idiots should really stop with the thug comments. This hardly fits the definition.
Ace
October 11th, 2010
5:30 pm
This kind of press is priceless, where’s Paris? She could learn something here at UGA.
Einsteindawg
October 11th, 2010
5:31 pm
The bigger joke is the Walton County Sheriff’s Dept, especially Joe (Barney Fife) Chapman. Having a two month old bench warrent and not knowing where to find Caleb King…sounds like Joe’s from Alabama. And, I’d dismiss King from the team, as he knew the rules.
Lost Dawg
October 11th, 2010
5:32 pm
Layinlow, King was at the game saturday, I saw him in person. If the warrant was already issued why not arrest him last week sometime?
Look in mirror
October 11th, 2010
5:32 pm
You people are brutal. Kick him off the team for not paying a ticket. Was drugs or alcohol involved? Get a ticket in Aug and a court date several months later is so easy to forget. So quick to point out someone other than your self shortcomings etc. Those of you that work how many times do you arrive late, leave early, long lunches without making up the time? So if your caught should you be fired for breaking company policy? That’s okay cause it you right. Run wind sprint, pick up thrash, work in the chow hall but don’t kick the young man off the team, what example would that be setting?
ow
5150 P.O.A.D
October 11th, 2010
5:32 pm
HowtoFish when you are on the lake to the Lake Cops make sure their are life jackets for all the people in the boat? Do they check if anybody is drinking and/or BUI? I think they do.
Mike
October 11th, 2010
5:33 pm
Traffic violations are more or less “normal” to most people.
Kick King OFF!
mama always said:
October 11th, 2010
5:33 pm
doggystyle….
How many cab drivers are on television every saturday and drive their cabs in front of 80,000 people?
WTF????
October 11th, 2010
5:33 pm
Just my opinion but Harry from da Burn is an absolute imbecile. What is amazing is that he/she actually has the ability to type. Trailer trash.
Red face Dawg
October 11th, 2010
5:33 pm
Shane, I can’t believe you would play the race card.
Chris
October 11th, 2010
5:34 pm
Not a UGA fan at all but we’re talking about a speeding ticket?? And the fact his brother was pulled over for this…”King was arrested by Athens-Clarke County Police after his brother, Brandon King, was pulled over for driving without a working tag light early Monday morning in east Athens.” WOW! First, that is surprising that someone would actually get pulled over for that and two, isn’t that just a minor traffic violation? Why would they run a check on the passenger?? These cops were looking for this. Arrests are never good, but this is a joke.
Carolina Dawg
October 11th, 2010
5:35 pm
Caleb had to show his license because B Wood had to drive his own car home and Caleb had to drive the car they came in. Caleb’s brother obviously was going to jail. Officers have to check to see if everyone taking a car from the scene is able to drive and properly licensed so they were just doing their jots. the problem is arrest warrant from Walton County. if you have teenagers, you know this stuff happens. happened to me in Macon growing up. Judge called my dad and we went and paid it. Now I know better. Seems like Walton County judge or clerk of court should make a courtesy call to UGA to give them heads up on the need to pay the ticket. As a judge told my son in college last year, “I’m not trying to ruin your life son, I’m here along with parents trying to help you straighten your life out”. The punishment has got to fit the crime and in this case, Caleb should get scorched with a big ticket and fine and thenrun steps till his tail falls off. I also don’t know what the team rules are. He might be in big trouble with CMR for not telling him about the ticket in the first place, so that could be a violation of team rules and a big problem. Anyway, hate to see an example made of Caleb for a simple speeding ticket.
annierooneydawgfan
October 11th, 2010
5:35 pm
Give me a break…kick this kid off the team for this…that is ridiculious! My husband forgot to pay a ticket back in 1979. We were in process of moving and he just forgot about it. Yes, they issued an arrest warrant, but all he had to do was show up in court, pay the fine and that was the end of it. He didn’t lose his job, I didn’t kick him out, no big deal…and he was and is a white collar worker. Kids will be kids and have so much going on. Were any of you that are spouting off “kick him off the team” ever young and “forget” to do something important!!!! Only God is perfect!
Ace
October 11th, 2010
5:35 pm
I’m telling ya’ll its ok with me if its ok with the coach, and he must like this kind of stuff because he has not stopped it.
The Bag Man
October 11th, 2010
5:36 pm
UGA has taken a commanding lead in their effort to repeat as Fulmer Cup Champions. Keep up the good work team!
mama always said:
October 11th, 2010
5:36 pm
The next time some State Trooper pulls you over and writes you a ticket, do not pay it , do not show up for court and see what happens to you. By not paying the fine, showing up for court is disrespectful to the courts, the university, to his teammates, and the coaching staff and is directly a reflection of how much the team disrespects CMR.
Golden Rules!
October 11th, 2010
5:36 pm
Man….it is like that movie Goundhog Day. Same old – same old with you mutts.
Hutson Mason
October 11th, 2010
5:36 pm
Don’t kick him off the team. Kick Murray off. I want to play!
5150 P.O.A.D
October 11th, 2010
5:36 pm
AT 3 am see how many cops don’t check all people in the car for ID to run a warrant check? Do you people not watch COPS on TV?
To Ace:
October 11th, 2010
5:38 pm
What would you suggest CMR do to stop all of this?
Matter of fact, I present this question to everyone. If you were Richt, how would you remedy this situation?
Ace
October 11th, 2010
5:38 pm
Please tell me this won’t stop, I knew UGA was in decline but this freefall to the bottom is golden.
Paul in RDU
October 11th, 2010
5:38 pm
Caleb isn’t a thug but he doesn’t seem to be the sharpest student at UGA. He’s not a kid – he’ll be 23 in January.
AltamahaDawg @4:58 makes a good point – doesn’t Caleb King have a mentor/parent who could have walked him through taking care of his ticket or did King just not care? I’m not going to throw stones at CK – I’ve had to take my 18 year old to traffic court myself
Fan-attic
October 11th, 2010
5:38 pm
Just another day in the Bulldog Nation! Georgia needs to change their recruiting priorities from number of stars to evidence of character.
KimZ'sPackage
October 11th, 2010
5:39 pm
Can UGA get the Tiffany Crystal HandCuffs 2 years in a row? Richt wake-up.
Ace
October 11th, 2010
5:39 pm
I would ask my players “Does anyone have any legal problems” If they said yes, I would deal with the problems, if they lie I would suspend them, if I didn’t care I would go to the tanning bed.
UGA FANS=LOW CLASS TRAILER PARK LOSERS
October 11th, 2010
5:40 pm
Says it all
pbj
October 11th, 2010
5:41 pm
DawgInMemphis And all the other national media that picked this up- they are all in the conspiracy against Ga? They are all a joke for reporting the arrest of your team players??? No you are the real joke here pal- that’s YOU. You want to win so bad that you don’t care about the disregard of the players for the law and breaking the rules. 2-4 with 11 arrests since the Spring- is there a problem at Ga- ABSOLUTELY!!! And the expressions on this blog such as yours only continue to add to the embarrassment that the program at Ga has become.
Ace
October 11th, 2010
5:42 pm
Oh yea if I was the coach, I might have forgotten to ask but after a few arrest I might remember.
The coach’s job is to deal with it, no me.
KimZ'sPackage
October 11th, 2010
5:42 pm
To ACE
I would have a meeting. Have the Position Coaches take a more active roll in the players lives. Like We told their parents when we recruited the players. Mom and dad would be called and told that thier child needs to be picked up from the UGA campus and find other opportunities for thier futures.
ugapuppy
October 11th, 2010
5:42 pm
guys you all are worried about the wrong thing…could somebody arrest Bobo for being a jacka….my inside information told me Bobo jumped in one of the player face today…
Harry from da Burn
October 11th, 2010
5:43 pm
Of course the Cops have to check the background and record of anyone they pull over….Is this a joke? You all cannot be this stupid…
KimZ'sPackage
October 11th, 2010
5:43 pm
#1 has been done plus an added Zero Tolerance Policy.
Runner up Richt
October 11th, 2010
5:43 pm
SO CAL APPARENTLY YOU CANT READ IDIOT
I said Mcgarity will probaly force CMR s hand to kick him off. I never wrote I wanted him off. Read before commenting
To Ace:
October 11th, 2010
5:44 pm
I liked the tanning bed remark.
Fat Dog
October 11th, 2010
5:44 pm
King is about as dumb as AJC sportwriters. ie real dumb!!!!
mama always said:
October 11th, 2010
5:44 pm
Athens Clark County Jail keeps a reserve jail for UGA football players.
Ace
October 11th, 2010
5:45 pm
There is a system to deal with the legal problems, and yes it is a minor problem, but to hear the rationalizions is worth say $10 and a six of country club.
anonymous
October 11th, 2010
5:45 pm
this wouldn’t be as big of a deal if there wasn’t 10 other arrests before his…this one is sooo not a big deal. get over it.
KimZ'sPackage
October 11th, 2010
5:45 pm
Harry do want the Illegals living in the US burning through our TAX money? At 3am I would have to check all the IDs in the car for My protection. If you think that is wrong then please become a COP and then run your mouth.
big deal
October 11th, 2010
5:46 pm
Florida player arrested for STALKING, 2 games suspension.
TN player arrested for beating undercover cop, no suspension.
Ga player unpaid speeding ticket, suspend for the year? Some of you bloggers are just stupid.
Get a life. . . this is not thug behavior.
db
October 11th, 2010
5:46 pm
I don’t think he will be kicked off the team. Probably a 1 game suspension. The sad thing is, and this is not just at UGa but everywhere, there are two sets of rules. One set for the non-stars and one set for the stars. Unfair.
ugafan
October 11th, 2010
5:46 pm
Hey ugapuppy I heard the same from a player. I heard it was Bruce Figgens. From my understanding Bobo don’t care for the kid. It’s Figgins not Figgens
Paddy
October 11th, 2010
5:46 pm
King family should go to drivers ed class. Caleb reckless driving charge and his brother with a suspended license.. Dumber than a sack of hamers!!!
GaDawg
October 11th, 2010
5:47 pm
he couldn’t pay the fine ’cause he does not have time to work and he can’t sell his jersey ’cause that will result in a 4 game suspension.
mama always said:
October 11th, 2010
5:47 pm
keep jumping in their faces, up there tails, on their heads, make some examples out of this undisciplined bunch and maybe oh maybe we might see some changes in attitude, tone and smarts.
Kel
October 11th, 2010
5:47 pm
Richt has plenty of cash with the million dollars he made for those 4 losses to bail players out of jail.
Say what mirror?
October 11th, 2010
5:47 pm
What??? You work for a company that wouldn’t fire you for long lunches, coming in late, and leaving early???! I would fully expect to be in serious trouble, firing or suspension would not surprise me in that situation. Not to mention, yes being arrested for showing the poor judgment to not show up in court may cost my job because they may no longer trust my judgment. Also, everyone whining that the cop made CK give his license, it was because he said he was going to DRIVE the car his brother was arrested in, not because he was a bystander! Had the cop not checked, CK was about to commit another crime by driving on a suspended license. Where would you be then?