UPDATE III: Georgia TB Isaiah Crowell dismissed after weapons arrest
Georgia tailback Isaiah Crowell, who rushed for 850 yards as a freshman last season, was expected to start for the Bulldogs this fall. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
UPDATED: CROWELL DISMISSED FROM TEAM
ATHENS – Georgia tailback Isaiah Crowell has been dismissed from the team following his arrest early Friday morning on three weapons charges.
Georgia coach Mark Richt made the announcement in short news release sent out by UGA Sports Communications at 5 p.m. on Friday.
“We have a dedicated and committed group of men who are working hard to prepare for the coming season,” Richt said. “Our total focus will be directed toward the team and this effort.”
Crowell, a sophomore from Columbus, was booked at 3:37 a.m. on charges of possessing a concealed weapon, having a weapon in a school zone and having an altered ID mark on that weapon. His bond, originally set at $7,500, was raised to $9,500 late Friday morning. According to booking records, Crowell was released early Friday afternoon.
According to the police report, four other Georgia football players were also in Crowell’s vehicle, including three 2012 freshman signees. Those persons were outside linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons, wide receiver Blake Tibbs and defensive back Sheldon Dawson. Also present was sophomore defensive back Quintavius Harrow. None of the four were charged.
According to Athens-Clarke police spokesperson Hilda Sorrow, Crowell was arrested at a “vehicle check-point” — or road block — on East Campus Road at Green Street at 2:20 a.m. Friday. Officer Kathryn Thornton reported smelling the odor of marijuana in Crowell’s silver four-door 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. Crowell gave consent to search the vehicle, himself and four other occupants. No marijuana was discovered but a black 9-mm Luger handgun with an altered serial number was found under the driver’s seat. Crowell was immediately arrested and taken to jail.
According to the police report, Crowell denied knowing the gun was in the car and said people drive the vehicle. He. The owner of the vehicle is listed as Crowell’s mother Debbie. The report also indicted that the five were coming from the nightclub Aftermath, where Crowell said the smell of marijuana originated.
The police report also indicated that Crowell has no criminal history.
Crowell’s mother, Debbie, was clearly distressed when reached by telephone Friday. “I don’t want to talk to a reporter right now,” she said. “”If I want to talk to anybody it’s God.”
Crowell, who came to UGA in 2011 as the No. 1-rated running back prospect in America, was slated to start for the Bulldogs at tailback this season. He rushed for 850 yards and 5 touchdowns as a freshman despite missing playing time due to suspensions and injuries. He was benched for the first quarter of the Vanderbilt game on Oct. 15 as a punishment for an undisclosed disciplinary infraction and he was suspended for the Nov. 5 New Mexico State game, reportedly for failing a drug test.
With Crowell out of the fold, Georgia will turn to redshirt sophomore Ken Malcome and senior Richard Samuel to carry the load early on, along with junior Brandon Harton. The Bulldogs also signed Keith Marshall of Raleigh, N.C. — the top running back prospect in the country, according to 247Sports.com — and four-star prospect Todd Gurley of Tarboro, N.C., to play running back. Marshall enrolled in January.
Marshall and other running backs were offering support for Crowell via Twitter.
“Pray for Isaiah & that he will learn from his mistake,” wrote Marshall from @Truthh4.
Derrick Henry, a highly-touted running back prospect from Florida who once was committed to Georgia, also weighed in via his Twitter account, @KingHenry_2: “Pray for Crowell instead [of] bashing him . . . because everyone wasn’t raised the same. . . . So everyone should just pray he sees a better way”
More information to come when it’s available.
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
1,565 comments Add your comment
Sam
June 29th, 2012
8:32 am
Well, at least beating Tech every year is fun. This team will never get over the hump with Richt at the helm.
Marie
June 29th, 2012
8:32 am
How disappointing.
Sopwith Camel
June 29th, 2012
8:32 am
Good riddance to bad trash!
Damon Evans
June 29th, 2012
8:33 am
Good Kid. He likes red panties, too.
RTD
June 29th, 2012
8:33 am
These are felony charges. This is ATF stuff, the serial number of the gun was altered.
Chris
June 29th, 2012
8:33 am
Suspend him for the year and let him focus on becoming a better person!!
Jackson
June 29th, 2012
8:33 am
Welcome back Mr. Henry???
Fast and Furious
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
I’m sure he was working undercover for Eric Holder.
I dropped my fried twinkie
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
What is UGa’s preseason Ranking NOW? Still top10?
Falling in the AP Poll
but
Rising in the Fulmer Cup Standings
C-Dawg
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
PerimeterCenterJacket… no apologies needed… 31-17 oh and 10 out of 11, or some huge number like that.
gg
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
I think it’s clear now where his mind is. He doesn’t want to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity he has. He just wants to stay in the ‘hood. Too bad!
The Dogs would be better with his talent, but not if that kind of mentality comes with it. They’ll be better off to cut him now, and they’ll be a better TEAM.
Isaiah Crowell Jailed on Felony Weapons Charge
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
[...] of possession/carrying a concealed weapon. He was booked at 3:37 a.m. and bond was set at $7,500. Georgia tailback Isaiah Crowell jailed on weapons charges | UGA sports blog Click on the "Share" button when you want to Email, Tweet, Facebook, Google, etc. [...]
PerimeterCenterJacket
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
Hmmm…. to attempt answer your question (not that I’ll be seen as welcome or of any use on the Blawg), an altered ID mark is a common crime for stolen guns or guns sold on the black market. Handguns have a serial number (on a Glock you’ll find it on the left front area of the slide) that functions like a VIN number on a car. Criminals often deface this by scratching it out with a piece of steel or metal grinder to hinder tracking the weapon. It basically means he didn’t buy these guns at a store, and they might be “hot” (meaning stolen.)
Tony
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
I just don’t understand the lack of discipline. Why don’t the coaches have better control? This stuff goes on and on and on. No good can come from anything going on at 3:30 in the morning. I guess we need to wait and see what this is all about, but it looks like more of the same. This very well could end his career at UGA.
nwdnanny
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
Not surprising at all. Should have gotten rid of him last year…never contributed a thing. Such a wimp.
TOTALLY agree with Neal Boortz…some things will never change.
DYNAMICBIGBOY
June 29th, 2012
8:34 am
What in the hell was he doing out at 3:30? Maybe he got lucky and got caught before he could kill someone. What a colossal idiot to waste all that talent.
Dr. Kenneth Noiswater
June 29th, 2012
8:35 am
agreed Gdawg- henry or kamara or even both will surely commit back with UGA. Crowell is a first class idiot. Is this the typical lifestyle in Columbus??
satxdawg
June 29th, 2012
8:35 am
Derrick Henry ??? Alvin kamara?? Who else out there available??
Nick J
June 29th, 2012
8:35 am
As the wise man once said, you can take the kid out of the ghetto, but you cant take the ghetto out of the kid!
DYNAMICBIGBOY
June 29th, 2012
8:35 am
I see you don’t mind showing my comments as long as they are not about the bumblebees pathetic program.
SummerDawgs
June 29th, 2012
8:35 am
Hmmm…….
June 29th, 2012
8:28 am
Not sure if possessing a weapon is really enough for Richt to kick him off the team. Does anyone know exactly what an “altered ID mark” means? Fake ID or does it have something to do with the weapon itself?
Meaning that the Vin# more than likely was removed from the fire arm.
crossdawg
June 29th, 2012
8:36 am
Another mop head bites the dust. Maybe prison will mature him some.
Chuck
June 29th, 2012
8:36 am
An altered ID means someone tried to file off the serial number. That’s a felony in most states, and the law usually says that absent of proof that someone else did it, it is assumed the possessor of the weapon did it–in this case, Crowell.
Ronzul
June 29th, 2012
8:36 am
Did he pull out a puppy at his presser again??!! What a LOSER!!
Sopwith Camel
June 29th, 2012
8:37 am
The headline on the main AJC page calls Crowell a “Star”. Please change this. He never was a star……………..anything but a star!!!
GaGirl61
June 29th, 2012
8:37 am
What a shame! I hope he can get the help he really needs!
Dienlafin
June 29th, 2012
8:37 am
Cost himself millions of $. Of course he is so stupid his agent would have absconded with all of it. Exactly what was his major, criminal justice? He will probably go back to Carver now and work on a book and get his Masters degree.Wait why not go back to the streets of Columbus and become a runner!!!!!!
Russ
June 29th, 2012
8:37 am
I’m sure Les Miles will welcome him with open arms…He’s as pure as Jesus in Baton Rouge
UGA #1Fan
June 29th, 2012
8:37 am
This hurts this morning. Crowell is the key to our National Championship hopes. Man this hurts. I’m going to have some beers for lunch for this.
Tee off
June 29th, 2012
8:37 am
Even though I know these players have to take responsibility but at some point this has to fall on the coach. He knew how big of a risk Crowell was when he was recruiting him. Then he turned into even a bigger bum when he got to campus. But Richt stuck with him and continues to get a free pass after setting records for arrests. I’m totally over it and am ready to see Richt own up to in. Some players obviously don’t listen or respect him off the field. That’s definitely apparent on the field too. He cannot discipline or control his players.
zgoldatl
June 29th, 2012
8:37 am
To echo some of the previous posts, what a waste. Wish him the best, and hope he can turn his life around. After he gets it turned around, come on down to GSU.
Go Panthers
Bleed Blue
Brian F
June 29th, 2012
8:38 am
Idiot !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian
June 29th, 2012
8:38 am
well.. Jax State needs another running back.. What a moron
WHAT?
June 29th, 2012
8:38 am
I would like to know more about this…was it a knife or a gun? If it was a knife, what is the deal? What student has not altered and ID to be able to buy beer…big deal! Who was after him? Are the players unfairly targeted?
Jackson
June 29th, 2012
8:38 am
Tony- Are you kidding, end his career @ UGA….He is out of here not to soon.
Cut him loose
June 29th, 2012
8:38 am
It is time to cut this trouble maker loose. He wants to be a gangster let him do it some where other than UGA.
Robert
June 29th, 2012
8:38 am
Talk about “not able to see the forest for the trees” … Enough God-given talent to play in the NFL … But far too little heart, work ethic, discipline, and just common sense to even make it through a free ride in college …
Too bad
June 29th, 2012
8:38 am
Too bad, he is a DAMN GOOD DAWGGG
kingdaddy
June 29th, 2012
8:39 am
What was he doing out at 3 am anyway, and with a gun? Hope he’s drug tested too. Richt, don’t think about it, KICK HIM OFF THE TEAM NOW! Yeah, he’ll go straight to LSU or Auburn, what a shame. The Dawgs are “snake-bit”…
Georgia RB Isaiah Crowell, 2011 SEC freshman of the year, arrested on weapons charges
June 29th, 2012
8:39 am
[...] Georgia tailback Isaiah Crowell jailed on weapons charges | UGA sports blog He is currently jailed on 3 felony weapons charges. Why he even owns weapons is beyond me. I think Mark Richt is going to kick him off the team now. SMH, what a waste of talent. [02:00] Agent: if taylor swift had a british accent she would be pregnant 2 years ago with my twins Reply With Quote [...]
Dr. Kenneth Noiswater
June 29th, 2012
8:39 am
marshall, gurley, malcome, samuel, harton, etc….UGA will be fine at RB. crowell was a train wreck from day 1!!!
Footballrules
June 29th, 2012
8:40 am
C-Dawg….of course it’s 10 out of 11….when half of your team could start for Sing Sing. Who does UGA open with this year? Reidsville?
Louie
June 29th, 2012
8:40 am
Say it ain’t so….
Duke
June 29th, 2012
8:40 am
This hurts. Crowell was the most talented RB at UGA since Hershel.
Tee off
June 29th, 2012
8:41 am
The sad thing is b/c he’s full of talent he’ll get an unlimited number of chances to make up for his mistakes. Junior college next year and then back to a top 10 FBS team probably get arrested 2 or 3 times along the way but an NFL team will justify him getting drafted. Happens all the time.
Jackson
June 29th, 2012
8:41 am
Oh well, i guess i got filtered out….get rid of him.
Chris
June 29th, 2012
8:41 am
Derrick Henry, are you paying attention?
crowhoes
June 29th, 2012
8:41 am
A 19 year old kid out at 3:30am??? Whaaaaa???
BLOOOOOOGS!!!
Fleet
June 29th, 2012
8:41 am
I would have to assume that if it was a gun and the ” ID marks” had been altered that it means that the serial number had been filed off …. that’s grounds for a permanent bye-bye from UGA. We’ll just have to wait and see.
JW
June 29th, 2012
8:42 am
Tee Off at the wrong person.