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
Sloan
June 29th, 2012
9:21 am
This is Richt’s fault. He is proving to be a terrible judge of character, like his mentor Coach Bowden was at FSU.
This is not Richt’s fault in so much as he cannot control the actions of his players 24/7.
Paradoxical but Crowell needs to be dismissed immediately.
BUZZZZted
June 29th, 2012
9:21 am
Now UGA’s Lynch is saying….what? That criticism of Isaiah C. is “UNFAIR?” HUH???
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
June 29th, 2012
9:22 am
Why not blame CMR and his coaching staff???? Didn’t they recruit this kid…come on….
RogersParkRob
June 29th, 2012
9:22 am
I bet he is glad he has his bulldog to keep him company.
A.J. Cannon
June 29th, 2012
9:22 am
What a surprise. You can look at the guy and know he’s human trash. Why doesn’t Richt run from people like that? Instead he brings them to Athens.
Birddawg
June 29th, 2012
9:22 am
You can’t fix stupid.
TampaGator
June 29th, 2012
9:22 am
@Chris…..
You are as stupid as Crowell.
Without any sense of pride……several years ago…..Florida had a potentially great DT arressted early in the morning on a weapons charge….and he was suspended from the team. I guess your theory about “the Gators” just went up in after smoke.
and……Chris…..after firing all the cops for doing their job early in the morning….when most crimes occur……lots go ahead and fire all the fire figthers and teachers for trying to do their jobs too. Clean house so the Crowells of the world can go around shooting people, robbing you, burning houses down, and corrupting our schools. Yeah boy!
DePort
June 29th, 2012
9:22 am
I am so done with these kids … I mean really .. how much danger could he be in to have weapons on him like that… Its time to crack down on where these kids are hanging out … seems to me there is a cancer floating around Athens… This is just crazy … I can only ramble after reading this!!
Blue
June 29th, 2012
9:23 am
hmmmm…yes, the altered ID mark means the serial number was filed off or altered.
VALDOSTADAWG
June 29th, 2012
9:23 am
SEE YA!!!
Deepdiver
June 29th, 2012
9:23 am
I guess he was trying to act tough by carrying a concealed weapon. Now he can act tough in prison. Hire a bodyguard if you are high profile and not licensed to carry a concealed weapon. Pretty simple. He was probably just trying to look hard for his friends though.
Denver Dog
June 29th, 2012
9:23 am
D1 pre season #1 for most arrests LOL
Go Daaaaaaawwwwwwggggsss, woof woof
DAWGMan
June 29th, 2012
9:24 am
If everything stays the same we will suspend him for the first two games. Hey guys, quit making fun of Georgia Tech’s problems. We have more than our share.
anon1
June 29th, 2012
9:24 am
I truly think that getting the number 1 running back recruit was a curse for UGA two years ago. Crowell has been nothing but a distraction and how he got “Freshman of the Year” is a joke. (or everyone else was redshirting their freshmen)
not surprised
June 29th, 2012
9:24 am
not racist Andy as the saying goes if the shoes fits wear it and it is what it is ha
Marshall, Gurley, Malcombe, Samuel
June 29th, 2012
9:25 am
None as talented as Crowell, but as a group should get the job done. 2013 RB recruiting just got easier. Expect two top tailbacks to commit to the Dogs.
St. Richt
June 29th, 2012
9:25 am
Crowell is a sissy. At Auburn they actually USE the guns to rob.
corey simon
June 29th, 2012
9:26 am
DOG NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How does it feel to have such great expectations for the season knowing they will never come to fruition? Wonderful!! It is truly a doggy dog world
Jack Crowe
June 29th, 2012
9:26 am
Send him over to Jax State. Hell, we’ll take him. Might hurt our APR, but our men’s basketball program will look like scholars after he joins the football team…
7576DAWG
June 29th, 2012
9:26 am
If it was a gun he was carrying what part of Athens does Crowell feel so insecure that he has to carry a gun. And why was he in that area at 3:30 A.M.
This is not on Richt, it’s on Crowell’s parents. Surely his parents knew he had the gun , if it was a gun. Crowell is 18 years old. How would he buy a gun if it wasn’t illegal and if he bought an illegal gun off the streets surely he knows that people go to PRISON every day for that offense. Why would Crowell fill the need to carry a weapon if it was a gun.
If Crowell owns and is carrying an illegal weapon you know 10 or 20% of his teammates are too. I would have a sweep of every player on the team . They may be too smart to carry an illegal fire arm but I bet more than one teammate own’s one.
Second Rate Dawgs
June 29th, 2012
9:26 am
Was he wearing women’s clothes and speaking with a German accent? No doubt
CMR will come down hard on him and suspend him for the first quarter of the
Buffalo game.
TampaGator
June 29th, 2012
9:26 am
Dixie Redcoat…..
I think just about every team recruited Crowell. Most likely, Issah’s parents told him to go to Georgia in the hopes Richt would have a positive influence on him. But trouble often remains trouble….espeically away from home. Georgia fans….just be glad it happened now and not during the season. Less of a negative impact now……and a troublesome player and been eliminated (hopefully) from you lockeroom. Georgia will probably be a better “team” without this troubled kid.
Maybe he will be able to go to Jacksonville State or South Alabama and get his act together.
PMC
June 29th, 2012
9:26 am
One of these days people will realize it’s just easier to do right than to do wrong.
RobinVa
June 29th, 2012
9:26 am
I have long since abandoned the National Felons League and I might be doing the same regarding college football if the trend keeps up. Where can I go to find sports that aren’t populated by maladjusted, gun toting. women beating, knife wielding, narcissistic “student” athletes…cynical coaches…and greedy, hypocritical administrators? There is a middle school up the street. I might find it there, for now at least. Stories that at one time would startled us now only elicit a yawn. I would love to see actual students who want to, and ought to be receiving an education, playing football on fall afternoons. Man am I living in the dark ages or what. This isn’t about Crowell or Richt, it is about the rot that has set in permanently in our culture.
Maxwell the chihuahua hunter
June 29th, 2012
9:26 am
Garner should consider whether Athens itself is a fit for some kids.
james
June 29th, 2012
9:27 am
I agree with the Gruden comment ….Pay him what ever he wants, it will be worth it. Only way we can get back in the game.
Leggs
June 29th, 2012
9:27 am
OK everyone, leave the high school he graduated from out of this. The high school has nothing to do with him breaking the law.
DOG GONE IT
June 29th, 2012
9:27 am
ATTENTION ALL DOG FANS……………For those of you whom taunted & laughed @ BAMA FANS when crowell signed with uga……………….WHOSE LAUGHING NOW?!!
Deepdiver
June 29th, 2012
9:27 am
This will not be a problem with UGA’s cupcake schedule. Buffalo to open. Real classy to schedule them UGA. We’ll see what happens against Florida, Auburn, possibly South Carolina. Those are the only opponents worth anything on the schedule. If UGA went undeated, they would have trouble getting into the playoffs with the new system based on their weak schedule.
Toby
June 29th, 2012
9:27 am
Maybe he is a crime fighter keeping the streets in Athens safer for all mankind.
Was the boy wonder found close by?
The Dogs will still beat tech.
St. Richt
June 29th, 2012
9:27 am
This is on Richt 100% because no one is scared to cross him and his milqetoast discipline.
I dropped my fried twinkie
June 29th, 2012
9:27 am
DawginLex
June 29th, 2012
9:06 am
Crowell won’t be on the UGA football team when you get back
DiLex is Hiding on the Other blogs. He is afraid to come here and take his abuse like a man?
Old Devil
June 29th, 2012
9:29 am
This guy, for all his talent, is a cancer on the program. I prescribe chemo and radiation.
Big Crimson 75
June 29th, 2012
9:29 am
Coach Richt may not survive this.
If He really were the Saint dwag fans make him out to be, He would resign immediately!!
He has ZERO control of his football team.
It’s what you dogs will never understand — The reason Bama fans love Saban is not because of the wins & the Titles — it’s because this non-sense doesn’t happen!!……..and NO police department “hides” felony weapons charges, so spare me.
Alabama Jack
June 29th, 2012
9:29 am
Will there be a four team playoff for the Fulmer Cup or will UGA win it outright?
DePort
June 29th, 2012
9:29 am
We have other running backs … time to step up .. im already over this.
PMC
June 29th, 2012
9:29 am
This should make people thankful for guys like Richard Samuel and all the selfless sacrifices he’s made for the team.
ugab
June 29th, 2012
9:29 am
WTH? What is the ID thing? What kind of weapon did he have? Crowell is to good of talent to have this happen. The bad thing about it is another school will pick IC up and play him with weapons charge.. TAKE CARE IC AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS NOTHING…..
I-185
June 29th, 2012
9:29 am
More of the wonderful UGA tradition. Can’t wait for Dream Team II.
Chris
June 29th, 2012
9:29 am
TampaGator: Crowell was in school my man……..he was playing ball and getting an education so carrying a weapon around while you are traveling from one destination on foot to the next is totally understanding……..Look at tech man……..there robbing people left and right and cops are no where to be found………You have to look at intentions, you just can’t go on the limb and say oh since he has a gun he may rob steal or kill innocently or without intent……this world is so out of hand now, women are forced to carry weapons…….C’mon Man, you don’t make sense
DawginLex
June 29th, 2012
9:30 am
St. Richt
June 29th, 2012
9:10 am
Anyone seen DawginLex? Let’s get a suicide watch setup pronto
**************
I’m right here you moron
Are you needing assistance in killing yourself?
I’m sure we can get you plenty of help just from the folks on this blog
Nat'l Champ Club AU, Bama, LSU, UF
June 29th, 2012
9:30 am
Honestly, does it really matter?? mark richt was going to underachieve as usual with or without crowell. Uga fans be real
with yourselves, you guys had knowshon moreno, a.j. green, and matthew stafford all on the same team…did you even come
close to winning a nat’l championship?? So do you think missing crowell will be any different? LOL! Mediocre program!
St. Richt
June 29th, 2012
9:31 am
APB out for:
DawginLex
Kerryb
JB
We’re really worried you girls may have hurt yourselves over this.
ugab
June 29th, 2012
9:31 am
I just don’t see IC with a gun on campus.Something is not right
Bruce
June 29th, 2012
9:32 am
And he had, and unreported thing for being out of bounds with women. One is my daughter, who he touched on the buttocks. He also called her roomate an insulting name when she would not submit to his sexual advances. Done.
DawginLex
June 29th, 2012
9:32 am
st richt the moron
Crowell messed up and now he will pay the price. He will never play football at Georgia again and will most likely go to jail.
Deflect? Deflect?
You idiot. Just shutup and go back to your blow up doll date for tonight
hhh222
June 29th, 2012
9:32 am
As Bugs Bunny would say, What a maroon.
Simplythetruth
June 29th, 2012
9:32 am
Don’t worry bout it. Make a “small” donation to Obama’s campaign, Holder threatens ATF, Crumbwell is home free.
jackson
June 29th, 2012
9:32 am
I think it’s it time for UGA to stop recruiting in GA
BW
June 29th, 2012
9:32 am
What is in that water in Athens?!