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.
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1,565 comments Add your comment
Burt Reynolds, AKA Paul Crewe
June 29th, 2012
2:33 pm
He needed that gun for the zombie apocalypse.
avalanche in Aruba
June 29th, 2012
2:34 pm
Let UGA do the investigaton? The police have that handled. UGA should have done the investigative work before this happened. Lack of institutional control at the very least.
Don't Tread
June 29th, 2012
2:34 pm
Another day, another felony charge for a football player. Somehow, people are surprised by this. It’s really no secret that NFL players believe themselves to be above the law, and this mentality has made it to the college level.
TampaGator
June 29th, 2012
2:34 pm
Wow……up to 25 pages. Crowell just wanted a little attention. He felt threatened by Marshall and Curley…..and figured…..he would go buy a stolen Lugar from an Athens nightclub…..you know…possibly reduce the competition during fall practice….
4Shizzle
June 29th, 2012
2:35 pm
It’s all Nick Saban’s fault!!!! And Bammer!! I swear!!!–Cletus T Barner
Gump
June 29th, 2012
2:35 pm
Stupid is, as Stupid does..If you need a gun to go somewhere, DON’T GO THERE!
thwg
June 29th, 2012
2:36 pm
Guys, uga isn’t a legitimate university
Stupid
June 29th, 2012
2:36 pm
Recruits, potential recruits, take all these comments from rivals as a positive, “the dawgs are a big deal” if this was tech or other schools, people wouldn’t care. When your a dawg, you are a big deal, get use to it
TampaGator
June 29th, 2012
2:36 pm
……..but….he would later tell the police…….I don’t have no idea where them boys (Marshall and Curley) might be. But don’t check under the front seat of my car for nothing.
thatch56
June 29th, 2012
2:37 pm
Coach Richt, rip, tear, cut, slice, do anything to remove this cancer from the
school. UGA will be better off for it. This is and should be a wake call for all other players who choose not to do the right thing. How hard is it? This stupidity will cost a talented athlete millions. I bet his family isn’t to happy either, they lost their free ticket.
TampaGator
June 29th, 2012
2:37 pm
Hey…..the number of posts are slowing down. The world didn’t come to an end after all.
Stupid
June 29th, 2012
2:38 pm
Go dogs
Atlanta Buzz
June 29th, 2012
2:38 pm
Dawg in Chapel Hill
You’re right, we don’t know whose gun it is… because the serial number has been filed off. That being said, anyone who claims that gun will be charged with a felony. Since that isn’t likely to happen, it is illegal to be in possession of a gun with an altered serial number, and as the driver he is responsible for anything in the car. That gun is in his possession regardless of whether or not it’s his.
Okay, the hotbox comment was an embellishment
It’s when you smoke marijuana with the windows rolled up so the smoke stays in. I’ve never done it, but have heard it referenced enough to warrant a quick Urban Dictionary search sometime in my past. Regardless, I’ve been to Aftermath in Athens, and unless I went on “No Weed Day,” it didn’t smell like marijuana, at least not enough to make you and your friends smell strong enough for an officer two feet away to smell you.
WALDY BUTTS
June 29th, 2012
2:39 pm
We never needed this prima donna. We only got him to make our
recruiting class rating higher.
Believe me we have 2-3 better than him right now! Go Dawgs!!!
Bubba
June 29th, 2012
2:39 pm
His mother will take the rap and say she put the gun under the seat before loaning him the car. Case will be closed on Crowell and he will be UGA’s starting tailback at Missouri.
a country boy can survive
June 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
@Stupid
Recruits, potential recruits, take all these comments from rivals as a positive, “the dawgs are a big deal” if this was tech or other schools, people wouldn’t care. When your a dawg, you are a big deal, get use to it
—————————————————————————————–
Sounds like you nailed the screen name.
Glenn
June 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
The most serious charge involves the school safety zone. The Georgia campus would be considered such an area. According to the County website, the felony is punishable by “not less than two nor more than ten years.” If convicted, Crowell could also be fined up to $10,000 on that charge.
NCBulldawg86
June 29th, 2012
2:40 pm
The boys were coming back from a club in Athens. The bars close at 2:00, I presume. They got caught up in a DUI checkpoint and got popped. He(Crowell) now gets to face the consequences of his actions.
WHat bothers me the most about this is the fact that three Freshmen war in the car and that Isaiah was leading them down the wrong direction. Not a very positive influence.
As for where are the Coaches? Well, that is easy. This is a no contact time period, right? So, if the Coaches can’t keep an eye on them, they are the mercy of the Senior leadership and kids doing the right thing. Sadly, young teenage men, especially teenage men who are football players at a major football program with the allure of downtown Athens and the women, smart decisions are usually further down the list of priorities.
Damn it, Crowell. Why? Might just be time for you to move on, Grasshopper. I will await and see the final verdict, but, damn, just does not look to good for you, Son.
Jasper Sanks, The REAL Carver Superstar.
June 29th, 2012
2:41 pm
Yo, yo, yo……..Whassa matter wit havin’ a gat inna car?? My boy IC was jus keepin it real an representin’ the Carver Clique……dat’s jus how we roll. You know wat dey say…..You can take us outta da projects, but you can’t take da projects outta us.
kingdaddy
June 29th, 2012
2:41 pm
You idiots throwing the race card around need to back up. It doesn’t matter what color he is, was, or will be. The jails are full of innocent numb-nuts. Did the cop lie about smelling pot? This has nothing to do with race, it has everything to do with stupidity. Once again, UGA gets another black-eye (no racial pun intended). Doesn’t something like this happen every time Richt leaves town???
Atlanta Buzz
June 29th, 2012
2:42 pm
NCBulldawg, that was my head-shake moment too… the fact that three kids who just signed with UGA five months ago are already headed down the path to throwing their lives away too.
NCBulldawg86
June 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
(Please ignore typo’s, auto correct, etc.)
Dawg in Chapel Hill
June 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
Atlanta Buzz
I get your point about the serial number, but technically we don’t actually know if it was completely filed off (at least in the article above). We just know “altered ID,” I think. So I just think we need to know much more. And interesting info on “hot-boxing”! Somehow reminds me of a Cheech and Chong scenario!
Zach Mettenberger
June 29th, 2012
2:44 pm
Forget those fools at UGA! Just shake it off and do you’r time if you get any and then come on over to Baton Rouge….We’ll take anyone! Especially if you have a criminal record. Just look at me bro! Our fans will look past anything if you’re a winner.
Troup Co. Dawg
June 29th, 2012
2:45 pm
On a lighter note I hear that Reuben Foster and Bo Scarborough are on campus in da house!!!!
Fair n Balanced
June 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
This guy is too dumb for college. I truly hope this wakes this kid up. I also hope that the running backs still in the stable will step up and not only play well, but that they keep themselves from low living and renew our confidence in running backs that come to GA. I’m tired of this!
kingdaddy
June 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Little stevie
STFU you moron. If we need any lip from you, we will scrape it off of the Dawg Nation’s ZIPPER…
blazer
June 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
Summertime and the living ain’t easy!
Big Crimson 75
June 29th, 2012
2:50 pm
I would never go on Awbarn’s or Alabammer’s representative newpapers to slind mud.
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With that literacy, I hope not for Dwag Nations sake!!
kingdaddy
June 29th, 2012
2:51 pm
You’re even dumber than the real spurrier…
Big Crimson 75
June 29th, 2012
2:52 pm
King — Yo, what up dude?
hatedumb — take a hike — you’re in the wrong century sport.
jdawgs
June 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
First of all, someone needs to get their facts correct…in Georgia it is not a felony to have a concealed handgun in your vehicle, matter of fact, with a few exceptions it is perfectly legal to carry one. It is illegal to have a handgun on any public school campus, but I am not sure about if you are in transit through campus. I am sure that of the tens of thousands of people that visit UGA on saturdays during the fall a large percentage of them have concealed handguns. I say back off IC and let the facts sort themselves out and not jump on the bandwagon to destroy this 19 year old kid just bc the AJC jumps at every opportunity it gets to print negative news about UGA and UGA sports!
The Commissioner
June 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
For those that aren’t UGA fans, it’s humorous to read your blogs on a UGA-related blog. Especially those that you skim through that appear to have been on here since the story broke this morning…man what a bunch of pathetic losers. I guess you’re the reason why we have to pay extra in health care in the near future. You don’t have any jobs. Get real. I don’t endorse what Crowell did; but what happened happened…half of you guys on here don’t even sound like you have high school degrees. Read over your multiple posts and recognize your intelligence. I won’t call anyone out because most of you know who you are. Just make sure that you show up at the QuickTrip for work tonight so you can continue to pay for your dial up networks and trailer rent.
unbiased committee
June 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
Good Ole’ Chip Towers
has to cover UGA Police Reports almost as mch as UGA Sports.
Wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
2:53 pm
This really dosen’t affect Tech. UGA beat Tech last year with Crowell on the bench as he was being
“saved” for the bowl game.
kingdaddy
June 29th, 2012
2:54 pm
Big Crim
What’s Twinkie worrying about my sex life for???
DIT
June 29th, 2012
2:55 pm
Thinking about today’s event and reading these blogs and the recent history with the players. It makes me wonder where the seniors have been on this football team in the past couple of years. When I was playing baseball the seniors took a form of ownership of the team and made it their business to be in the underclassman’s business.
I have not heard one thing about the seniors on this football program doing anything like that. They should be the sheriff being that Richt and his staff can’t be with the players during this time until practice starts. When the coaches can’t be in their face, to me, the seniors should be in their face.
Just my opinion.
OBAMA
June 29th, 2012
2:56 pm
dont worry isaiah at least you have free health care thanks to me, GO JACKETS
Concerned
June 29th, 2012
2:56 pm
NICE, and when will we get a coach that demands respect?
Next shoe to fall??????????????
Greg……………are you there?
Dawg Haus
June 29th, 2012
2:56 pm
This is pretty pathetic. I pray for Crowell and hope he learns from this experience, but Coach Richt has no other choice but to kick him off the team. At least Boo was playing well at the end of last season…
unbiased committee
June 29th, 2012
2:56 pm
almost as much
Beast from the East
June 29th, 2012
2:56 pm
Can’t believe the comments are open. Should probably shut this thing down.
Concerned
June 29th, 2012
2:57 pm
I heard Carver Columbus was loaded with talented hoods.
Wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
2:58 pm
Thank God for UGA. I wouldn’t have half the laughs that I have in life if it wasn’t for them. The rest of the nation dosen’t know what its missing. There should be a reality program called “Dawgs”. It would win every award. No way Dancing with the Stars could beat this.
Willie Robertson
June 29th, 2012
2:59 pm
he gon`
Wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
3:01 pm
Shall we say “the system failed him” ? In our society this is our fault, isn’t it ?
kingdaddy
June 29th, 2012
3:01 pm
BC75
If it wasn’t so awful for this young man and UGA, it would be funny. I just have had a bad week with this and the POTUS! I have already picked up my Jose (lit.) Hope nobody runs their mouth tonight, don’t need any inter-action with the po-pos…
Shaker
June 29th, 2012
3:02 pm
My fist just hit the table, i think i just broke my hand.
Dragnet
June 29th, 2012
3:02 pm
Pray for Police Officer Kathryn Thorton.
I dropped my fried twinkie
June 29th, 2012
3:02 pm
KingDaddy YOU know ME…………….APSTK…… LOL