Clarett arrested again... This time with guns
Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:34 pm
From today's Chicago Tribune. What a loser.
Clarett can't outrun the law
After highway chase, ex-OSU star arrested with 4 guns in SUV
By JoAnne Viviano
Associated Press
Published August 10, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When police ran into Maurice Clarett this time, officers said he was driving erratically and carrying an arsenal that included three semiautomatic handguns and an AK-47-type assault rifle in the front seat--all loaded.
A highway chase ensued, then ended in the early hours Wednesday when police spiked the former Ohio State star running back's tires.
Even then officers said they could not easily subdue him because the bulletproof vest he was wearing thwarted their stun guns.
It took several police and pepper spray to get the 6-foot, 245-pounder into handcuffs.
But Clarett's latest bizarre run-in with the law took perhaps its most troubling turn hours later, when prosecutors asked a judge to keep him in jail and revoke his bond on an earlier robbery charge.
One reason: He was driving a few blocks from the home of a woman who was set to testify against him next week, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
The judge raised the bond to $1.1 million. Clarett's attorney, Nick Mango, said it was "probably unlikely" that Clarett would be able to post it, meaning he would stay in jail for the duration of his trial, which starts Monday.
Clarett was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a felony, and given a traffic citation, and police said more charges are possible. An arraignment was scheduled for Thursday morning.
Police Sgt. Michael Woods said Clarett wove in and out of lanes, did a U-turn on a freeway and refused to leave the SUV after a spike stick flattened its tires. The 22-year-old Clarett had a semiautomatic handgun under his legs on the driver's seat, police said, and an assault rifle on the passenger seat. Two other semiautomatic handguns were in the vehicle, including one in a holster in a backpack.
Clarett's promising football career was derailed when he was suspended for the 2003 season after being charged with falsifying a police report.
He dropped out of school, then sued and lost in an attempt to be included in the 2004 NFL draft, a challenge that went to the Supreme Court. He was a surprise third-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2005 draft but was cut during the preseason.
Earlier this year he was charged with robbery and carrying a concealed weapon after authorities say he was identified as the person who flashed a gun and robbed two people of a cell phone behind a Columbus lounge early on New Year's morning.
Mango, whom Clarett had not hired to represent him in the new criminal case, said he is concerned about Clarett's mental health.
"He's been under a lot of pressure because of this case," he said, referring to the robbery charge.
Clarett had planned to play for the Youngstown-based Mahoning Valley Hitmen in the Eastern Indoor Football League starting in January. Hitmen coach and owner Jim Terry said the arrest will not affect Clarett's status with the team.
"We gave him a chance and now we'll wait to see what happens," he said. "I've seen far worse situations than this."
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
Clarett can't outrun the law
After highway chase, ex-OSU star arrested with 4 guns in SUV
By JoAnne Viviano
Associated Press
Published August 10, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When police ran into Maurice Clarett this time, officers said he was driving erratically and carrying an arsenal that included three semiautomatic handguns and an AK-47-type assault rifle in the front seat--all loaded.
A highway chase ensued, then ended in the early hours Wednesday when police spiked the former Ohio State star running back's tires.
Even then officers said they could not easily subdue him because the bulletproof vest he was wearing thwarted their stun guns.
It took several police and pepper spray to get the 6-foot, 245-pounder into handcuffs.
But Clarett's latest bizarre run-in with the law took perhaps its most troubling turn hours later, when prosecutors asked a judge to keep him in jail and revoke his bond on an earlier robbery charge.
One reason: He was driving a few blocks from the home of a woman who was set to testify against him next week, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
The judge raised the bond to $1.1 million. Clarett's attorney, Nick Mango, said it was "probably unlikely" that Clarett would be able to post it, meaning he would stay in jail for the duration of his trial, which starts Monday.
Clarett was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a felony, and given a traffic citation, and police said more charges are possible. An arraignment was scheduled for Thursday morning.
Police Sgt. Michael Woods said Clarett wove in and out of lanes, did a U-turn on a freeway and refused to leave the SUV after a spike stick flattened its tires. The 22-year-old Clarett had a semiautomatic handgun under his legs on the driver's seat, police said, and an assault rifle on the passenger seat. Two other semiautomatic handguns were in the vehicle, including one in a holster in a backpack.
Clarett's promising football career was derailed when he was suspended for the 2003 season after being charged with falsifying a police report.
He dropped out of school, then sued and lost in an attempt to be included in the 2004 NFL draft, a challenge that went to the Supreme Court. He was a surprise third-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2005 draft but was cut during the preseason.
Earlier this year he was charged with robbery and carrying a concealed weapon after authorities say he was identified as the person who flashed a gun and robbed two people of a cell phone behind a Columbus lounge early on New Year's morning.
Mango, whom Clarett had not hired to represent him in the new criminal case, said he is concerned about Clarett's mental health.
"He's been under a lot of pressure because of this case," he said, referring to the robbery charge.
Clarett had planned to play for the Youngstown-based Mahoning Valley Hitmen in the Eastern Indoor Football League starting in January. Hitmen coach and owner Jim Terry said the arrest will not affect Clarett's status with the team.
"We gave him a chance and now we'll wait to see what happens," he said. "I've seen far worse situations than this."
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
