Maurice Clarett arrested again

[TazFTW]

http://www.ksat.com/sports/9651698/detail.html

Officers said Clarett, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was uncooperative and police used a Taser gun in hopes of subduing him. However, the Taser gun did not work on Clarett because he was wearing the vest, so officers used Mace on him, police said.

Police said they then found an arsenal of weapons inside the SUV, including a loaded assault rifle and handgun. A hatchet, clothing and an open bottle of vodka were also taken from the vehicle.

Geez...

[Poli]

Twice in one night? Wow.

[CleBrownsfan]

dumb ass

[VPI97]

The Bengals should sign him.

[Joe]

he is well on his way to getting a degree in thuganomics

[HomerSimpson]

Sounds like a hell of a chase. I wonder if there is any video?

[VPI97]

A hatchet, clothing and an open bottle of vodka were also taken from the vehicle.
"But officer...I was only getting my goose on"

[Butter]

The Bengals should sign him.

He's too slow.

[BucDawg40]

He's just misunderstood.

[Grammaticus]

What was he planning on doing with a bullet proof vest and all that firepower?

[Toddzilla]

Maurice Clarett >> Marcus Vick

[QuikSand]

This event had been prophesied long ago. (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=12430)

[sachmo71]

poor guy

[A-Husker-4-Life]

What the hell, he was wearing a bullet proof vest. Weird..

[SunDevil]

Video on CNN. He looks pretty out of it.

[JeeberD]

What a fucking idjit...

[Young Drachma]

What a sad, sad story.

[Subby]

BALLERZ ALWAYS WEAR A BULLETPROOF VEST, YO!

[Ksyrup]

Quick, someone give him a microphone so VH1 can turn his story into a Behind the Music episode.

[Deattribution]

COLUMBUS, Ohio --Former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon and a traffic violation after a highway chase.

Clarett was arrested early Wednesday after a highway chase that ended with police using Mace him and finding four loaded guns in his sport utility vehicle, a police spokesman said.

Officers used Mace to subdue Clarett after a stun gun was ineffective because the former Fiesta Bowl star was wearing a bullet-resistant vest, Sgt. Michael Woods said.

"It took several officers to get him handcuffed," Woods said. "Even after he was placed in the paddy wagon, he was still kicking at the doors and being a problem for the officers."

Clarett did not speak to police who tried to interview him at the station before he was moved to the Franklin County Jail.

Wearing tan jail-issue clothes, he talked on the telephone in the booking area, separated from reporters by a window. He was to be held at the jail at least until an arraignment Thursday morning, unless his attorneys work out an agreement for his release, police said.

Clarett made an illegal U-turn on the city's east side and failed to stop when officers, in a cruiser with lights flashing, tried to pull him over, Woods said.

Police said they pursued Clarett onto the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70, one of the city's main freeways, when he darted across the median and began heading west. Clarett drove over a spike strip that was placed on the highway, flattening the driver's side tires of the SUV, Woods said. A police helicopter in the area helped track the vehicle.

Clarett exited the highway and pulled into a restaurant parking lot about 10 minutes after police say they saw him make the U-turn. Officers removed him from the SUV after he failed to obey numerous orders to exit the vehicle, Woods said.

After Clarett was placed in a police van, officers discovered a loaded rifle and three loaded handguns in the front of his vehicle, Woods said.

"We don't have any idea why he had them or what, if anything, he was going to do with them," Woods said. Police don't know where Clarett got the guns or where he was headed or coming from in the SUV. Federal authorities plan to trace the guns' ownership.

A half-full bottle of vodka was found in the SUV, but no breath test was administered because police had no indication that Clarett was intoxicated, Woods said.

Clarett, 22, is currently awaiting trial on two counts of aggravated robbery, four counts of robbery and one count of carrying a concealed weapon in a separate case. Authorities said he was identified by witnesses as the person who flashed a gun and robbed two people of a cell phone in an alley behind the Opium Lounge in Columbus in the early hours of Jan. 1.

Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday morning for Clarett's attorneys in that case, Nick Mango and Michael Hoague. The home address Clarett gave police was his mother's house in Youngstown. A message seeking comment was left at the home.

Clarett scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime of the Fiesta Bowl against Miami to lead Ohio State to the 2002 national championship, the school's first since 1968. But that was the last game the freshman played for Ohio State.

He sat out the 2003 season after being charged with misdemeanor falsification on a police report, then dropped out of school. He sued to be included in the 2004 NFL draft and lost in court.

A surprise third-round pick in the 2005 draft, he was cut by the Denver Broncos during the preseason.

Clarett plans to play for the Mahoning Valley Hitmen, one of five teams in the Eastern Indoor Football League. The team, based in Clarett's hometown of Youngstown, is to begin play in January.

Two things... How the hell does he not get charged with resisting arrest?

And two, what exactly kind of indication do you need that a guy is intoxicated when he has a small arsenal of weapons, a bullet proof vest and isn't responding to police.

[vtbub]

Can't they just shoot this fucker in the head and remove this problem child before he kills somebody?

[rkmsuf]

Can't they just shoot this fucker in the head and remove this problem child before he kills somebody?

they probably aren't supposed to do that

[vtbub]

they probably aren't supposed to do that

The lawsuit would get messy too.

What a colossal waste of a person.

[rkmsuf]

The lawsuit would get messy too.

What a colossal waste of a person.

He just hasn't found his niche yet.

Just because he has little aptitude for football or crime doesn't mean he can't find his special talents within.

Maybe he could try skateboarding or competitive eating.

[Deattribution]

He just hasn't found his niche yet.

Just because he has little aptitude for football or crime doesn't mean he can't find his special talents within.

Maybe he could try skateboarding or competitive eating.

I think he's already well on the way to making crazy his new career.

[Ksyrup]

what exactly kind of indication do you need that a guy is intoxicated when he has a small arsenal of weapons, a bullet proof vest and isn't responding to police.

I'm not sure I understand what having weapons and a bullet-proof vest have to do with being drunk. I would guess that most crimes involving weapons and b-p vests are committed by people who are sober.

And depending on what kind of demeanor he had in "not responding" to police, you could make a judgment that it had nothing to do with being drunk. He could have just been ignoring them.

[KWhit]

The open bottle of vodka, perhaps, is an indication that he may have been intoxicated?

[Ksyrup]

The open bottle of vodka, perhaps, is an indication that he may have been intoxicated?

First, that wasn't what was being cited to as evidence of his intoxication in the post I responded to. Second, an open bottle of vodka likely means he is guilty of violating the open container law, but without more, doesn't necessarily warrant a DUI charge. Apparently he was driving pretty well. And I've got to think that the cops would be more than happy to throw the book at him if they could. Obviously, they had insufficient evidence that he was drun, aside from the bottle.

[Deattribution]

I'm not sure I understand what having weapons and a bullet-proof vest have to do with being drunk. I would guess that most crimes involving weapons and b-p vests are committed by people who are sober.

And depending on what kind of demeanor he had in "not responding" to police, you could make a judgment that it had nothing to do with being drunk. He could have just been ignoring them.


Well, I know I can get pulled over, just look at the officer wrong and get asked if I have been drinking... To me, if his behavior is so radical that I am not able to give him a breathalyzer test because he's kicking the shit out of the paddywagon several officers just put him in - and he has a half bottle of vodka, I'm atleast a little curious if he's intoxicated.

[Deattribution]

First, that wasn't what was being cited to as evidence of his intoxication in the post I responded to. Second, an open bottle of vodka likely means he is guilty of violating the open container law, but without more, doesn't necessarily warrant a DUI charge. Apparently he was driving pretty well. And I've got to think that the cops would be more than happy to throw the book at him if they could. Obviously, they had insufficient evidence that he was drun, aside from the bottle.

I figured highlighting that part of the article was enough to show that I was using it as part of my post, but maybe not..

And if they wanted to throw the book at him, they could have got him for resisting arrest and the open container law.

[KWhit]

First, that wasn't what was being cited to as evidence of his intoxication in the post I responded to.

Yes, I understand that.

Second, an open bottle of vodka likely means he is guilty of violating the open container law, but without more, doesn't necessarily warrant a DUI charge

I wasn't suggesting it warranted a DUI charge. But it should absolutely warrant making him take a breathilizer test to see if he was drunk or not!

[Grammaticus]

Well, he previously robbed someone using a firearm and is awaiting trial. Plus he had priors before that. Why is he even out and about? Now he is travelling in public with a bullet proof vest and loaded rifle and three loaded hand guns. What more do you need to hold him until his several trials are resolved? Does he actually have to kill someone before anything is done? I don't think he was method acting for the Hit Men indoor football team or trying out for The Longest Yard reality show.

Regarding the blood alcohol test, erratic driving (pulling the U turn and refusing to pull over) along with the beligerant behavior toward officers and the bottle of vodka is more than enough probable cause to require a blood alcohol test.

Pure speculation but, I'd bet dollars to donuts this nut case was on his way to rob a bank or kill his girlfriend, take your pick.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Pure speculation but, I'd bet dollars to donuts this nut case was on his way to rob a bank or kill his girlfriend, take your pick.
Hell, with that much firepower he could kill THE BANK!

I don't think there is anything wrong with having that many weapons in a vehicle though. The problem is when only ONE person has trhat kind of firepower because we all are not alowed to have it. If everybody on the highway had at least three uzi's, a flamethrower and an anti-aircraft shoulder missle the roads would be a safe place. :D

[bulletsponge]

shouldnt we just make a sticky "Maurice Clarett arrested again"?

[Noddadropp]

You guys keep referring to an "open container." Nowhere in that article does it say there was an open container found. They only found a half-full bottle of vodka. Just because you are transporting a bottle of alcohol that isn't full doesn't mean you are drinking it while driving.

[VPI97]

You guys keep referring to an "open container." Nowhere in that article does it say there was an open container found. They only found a half-full bottle of vodka. Just because you are transporting a bottle of alcohol that isn't full doesn't mean you are drinking it while driving.
It says it in the very first post of this thread, as well as in the article that was linked to in the first post.

[cartman]

You guys keep referring to an "open container." Nowhere in that article does it say there was an open container found. They only found a half-full bottle of vodka. Just because you are transporting a bottle of alcohol that isn't full doesn't mean you are drinking it while driving.
It doesn't matter. Any alcoholic beverage that is currently open, or had been previously opened, that is located in the passenger cabin is considered an "open container" by the law. An empty beer bottle on the floorboard is still considered an "open container". So a half-full vodka bottle definitely counts. Drinking while driving is a whole seperate deal. You can be cited for an open container even if you blow a 0.00 on the breathalyzer.

[Noddadropp]

It doesn't matter. Any alcoholic beverage that is currently open, or had been previously opened, that is located in the passenger cabin is considered an "open container" by the law. An empty beer bottle on the floorboard is still considered an "open container". So a half-full vodka bottle definitely counts. Drinking while driving is a whole seperate deal. You can be cited for an open container even if you blow a 0.00 on the breathalyzer.

Just looked up it. You're half right, I was all wrong.

In order for it to be an "open container" violation there must still be alcohol left in the container. So, empty beer cans would not count as open containers.

We both stand corrected it seems.

[Noddadropp]

It says it in the very first post of this thread, as well as in the article that was linked to in the first post.

Sorry, I was reading the posted article.

[Surtt]

Maybe the half-full vodka was left over from the last time he lifted weights.

[Noddadropp]

Then I assume it was well-aged.

[Eaglesfan27]

I heard this take on ESPN Radio today, and I agree that Maurice is lucky he was arrested. If he wasn't, I think this story would have been much more tragic.

[duckman]

In order for it to be an "open container" violation there must still be alcohol left in the container. So, empty beer cans would not count as open containers.

If a cop turns over an "empty" container and one drop of alcohol comes out, they'll cite you for open container.

[stevew]

Man, and I was all about going to see him play in some semi-pro league in Youngstown soon. Fucker.

Which former banned troll is nottadrop?

[Deattribution]

ESPN has a pretty interesting piece on the Clarett situation, the article was written by a reporter who spoke with Clarett 2 hours before his arrest (supposedly while he was all vested up and driving) - it brings up some interesting and valid points... which make the story even more sad. If it turns out to be the case, as some of it's speculation, I can feel for the guy a little bit.

It's huge so I won't post it here.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=2545078

[Young Drachma]

Yeah, after reading Tom Friend's piece, its even sadder. Hope that he can get his life straight rather than taking a sad road and being other people like Doc Gooden or Darryl Strawberry that keep coming in and out of jail because of substance abuse and other issues.

Too hard to watch, really.

[DaddyTorgo]

sad. but...*cough* shoulda stayed in school

edit: i mean this in the sense of "if he had stayed in school maybe he could have escaped the situation he found himself in by never being in it in the first place"

although it seems like a large part of it is that that was just his nature

[Groundhog]

Interesting read that ESPN article. Whenever I'd read anything related to his troubles previously I'd always just shrugged it off and considered him a fool, but I think he summed up his own situation nicely -in his own words - in this article. Makes you really feel for the guy.

[KWhit]

That ESPN article sounded like a lot of bullshit excuse-making to me. The tone presents Clarett as someone who had 4 loaded weapons (one an assault rifle), a bulletproof vest, and a hatchet because he needed protection.

The article states that "someone was coming after his baby girl. And if someone was coming after his baby girl, he was going to do anything he could to stop it."

Bullshit. The writer is trying to pull at our heart strings and make us feel for a bad, bad guy. I'm not buying it.

[sachmo71]

That ESPN article sounded like a lot of bullshit excuse-making to me. The tone presents Clarett as someone who had 4 loaded weapons (one an assault rifle), a bulletproof vest, and a hatchet because he needed protection.

The article states that "someone was coming after his baby girl. And if someone was coming after his baby girl, he was going to do anything he could to stop it."

Bullshit. The writer is trying to pull at our heart strings and make us feel for a bad, bad guy. I'm not buying it.


I interpreted it as the author explaining Clerett's state of mind, not the reality of the situation. Clerett is seriously depressed, and probably very scared. He seems to think he's in some sort of danger, and conveyed that to the author. I felt the author was making the point that Clerett was a timebomb waiting to go off, and in jail, he might be able to avert that. For a while, anyway.

[Klinglerware]

sad. but...*cough* shoulda stayed in school

edit: i mean this in the sense of "if he had stayed in school maybe he could have escaped the situation he found himself in by never being in it in the first place"



Tell that to the Baylor Men's Basketball program.

Besides, assuming normal academic progress (yes, a huge assumption), Clarett would have finished last year...

[KWhit]

I interpreted it as the author explaining Clerett's state of mind, not the reality of the situation. Clerett is seriously depressed, and probably very scared. He seems to think he's in some sort of danger, and conveyed that to the author. I felt the author was making the point that Clerett was a timebomb waiting to go off, and in jail, he might be able to avert that. For a while, anyway.

True. But the writer presented the material (especially the last bit) in a way that justified what he was doing. In my eyes, there's no justification whatsoever.

[Plundun]

That ESPN article sounded like a lot of bullshit excuse-making to me. The tone presents Clarett as someone who had 4 loaded weapons (one an assault rifle), a bulletproof vest, and a hatchet because he needed protection.

The article states that "someone was coming after his baby girl. And if someone was coming after his baby girl, he was going to do anything he could to stop it."

Bullshit. The writer is trying to pull at our heart strings and make us feel for a bad, bad guy. I'm not buying it.

That kind of paranoia and armament coupled with the fact that Clarett tells the writer that he had cried four times in the same afternoon while holding the daughter makes me think of those murders or murder/suicides where a parent kills his/hers children in order to "protect" them.

[VPI97]

I heard on the radio this morning that one of the witnesses who was going to testify against Clarett in his robbery trial (remember the other incident a few months ago) lived just a few blocks away from where the police first tried to pull him over. Maybe that's the person he had categorized as "coming after his baby girl".

[KWhit]

I heard on the radio this morning that one of the witnesses who was going to testify against Clarett in his robbery trial (remember the other incident a few months ago) lived just a few blocks away from where the police first tried to pull him over. Maybe that's the person he had categorized as "coming after his baby girl".

Yeah. I heard the same thing.

[Grammaticus]

So Clarett's bond is set at Five Million. Why the heck would they let him out at all?

Below is the CNN article:




Aug. 10, 2006, 9:17PM
Bond is set at $5 million for Clarett

By MATT LEINGANG Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Maurice Clarett closed his eyes and softly shook his head. Wearing the same type of tan, jail-issue jumpsuit he'd sported here once before, the former Ohio State star running back reacted with quiet disbelief as the judge announced his bond on a gun charge: $5 million, an amount that will almost certainly keep him in jail through the weekend.

Following his bizarre and violent encounter with police the day before, prosecutors had asked a judge to hold Clarett on at least $1 million bond.
"We feel he's a threat to the community," assistant prosecutor Chris Brown said.

Clarett stood against a wall next to his lawyer during Thursday's arraignment, did not say anything and was not addressed by the judge. His attorney, Nick Mango, called the $5 million bond excessive, adding that his client would not likely be able to post it.

Mango would not speculate on why four loaded guns _ including an AK-47-style assault rifle _ were in the SUV Clarett was driving early Wednesday."We're very confident that there was no intent to harm anyone," Mango said.

Prosecutors initially asked the judge to hold Clarett without bond, in part because he had been driving just a few blocks from the home of a woman scheduled to testify against him in his robbery trial, which starts Monday.
In that case, witnesses said Clarett flashed a gun and robbed them of a cell phone behind a Columbus nightclub earlier this year.

Franklin County Municipal Judge Andrea Peeples said she set the bond so high because the 22-year-old Clarett attempted to flee police. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Aug. 18.

Clarett's latest run-in with the law began when police noticed a vehicle driving erratically, beginning a highway chase that ended with police spiking the SUV's tires. Officers said they could not easily subdue Clarett because he was wearing a bulletproof vest that thwarted their stun guns.

After several police using pepper spray finally got him into handcuffs, the 6-foot, 245-pounder continued to struggle, kicking at the doors of the transport vehicle. Officers also secured a cloth mask over Clarett's mouth after they say he spat at them.

Police said more charges are possible, and federal agents said they are eyeing whether Clarett violated federal gun laws that prohibit having a firearm while under indictment.

"I feel bad for him. I think a lot of people do," said rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk of the Green Bay Packers, who arrived at Ohio State as a freshman with Clarett. "You've got to surround yourself with decent people, and I think in his case maybe he didn't do that, or took some bad advice or whatever. I don't know. Things aren't going right. Maybe this will be a wake-up call."

Clarett was in a positive mood when he spent Tuesday evening in suburban Columbus with his attorneys, preparing for next week's trial, said Jon Saia, a senior partner with the law firm representing Clarett.

He made a series of cell phone calls into the night and early Wednesday morning, including one to Jim Terry, coach of Mahoning Valley Hitmen of the Eastern Indoor Football League where Clarett has plans to play in January.

Terry said Clarett, whose girlfriend recently gave birth to his premature daughter, sounded depressed on the phone, but that wasn't unusual.
"Maurice mumbles, so he sounds depressed all the time," Terry said. "We just talked about the baby, we talked about the trial and then the phone cut out." Clarett did not call back, Terry said. Police said they attempted to stop Clarett a short time later.

As a freshman, Clarett scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime of the Fiesta Bowl against Miami to lead Ohio State to the 2002 national championship. It was the last game he played for the Buckeyes.
He was suspended for the following season after being charged with falsely reporting a theft to police. After dropping out of school, he challenged the NFL's draft eligibility rule in 2004 but lost.

The Broncos made him a surprise third-round pick the following year, but he was cut during the preseason.

[Surtt]

According to Skip Bayless this is all the NFL's fault for not letting him enter the draft 2 years ago.

[Ksyrup]

Skip Bayless. Figures.

[Toddzilla]

According to Skip Bayless this is all the NFL's fault for not letting him enter the draft 2 years ago.Which illustrates, above all else, what an idiotic know-nothing gasbag Skip Bayless is.

[Surtt]

Which illustrates, above all else, what an idiotic know-nothing gasbag Skip Bayless is.

yep.

[BrianD]

According to Skip Bayless this is all the NFL's fault for not letting him enter the draft 2 years ago.

You know he doesn't even really believe that. It is just a way to get people talking about him and to get the Clones up in arms.

[HomerSimpson]

So, you wanted an answer to why Clarett was wearing a bullet proof jacket.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2553084
Lawyer: Clarett has ties to alleged Israeli mobster

Maurice Clarett was bankrolled by an alleged member of an Israeli crime organization after leaving Ohio State, ESPN has learned, and Clarett's attorney said Thursday that his client may have been in possession of firearms last week to protect himself against mob activity

But when Clarett was released by the Denver Broncos (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den) in August 2005, he was unable to pay Waknine back,
And now you know the rest of the story.....Good Day.:D

[AlexB]

How do you get from being one of college football's most promising players to being in with the Israeli mob :confused:

[Honolulu_Blue]

How do you get from being one of college football's most promising players to being in with the Israeli mob :confused:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/logos/images/gifs/OSU-b&w.gif

[stevew]

From a unreliable source but possibly interesting anyways, the reason for the original robbery was that the cell phone had possibly incriminating photos of Clarett on it. Him snorting coke, something to that effect.

[Ksyrup]

Clarett agrees to plea deal; will serve at least 3 1/2 years
The Columbus Dispatch
Monday, September 18, 2006 1:47 PM

Maurice Clarett will spend at least 3 ½ years in prison after agreeing to a plea bargain this morning in two criminal cases.

The deal was reached on the day that jury selection was to begin in an aggravated-robbery case against the former Ohio State running back.

Under the plea deal, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David W. Fais sentenced Clarett to 7 ½ years in prison, with an opportunity to apply for judicial release after 3 1/2. Prosecutors agreed not to object to an early release.

Prosecutor Ron O'Brien approved the deal, as did the victims of a robbery in which Clarett took a cell phone from two people behind a Downtown bar Jan.1 after displaying a handgun in his waistband.

Clarett, 22, was out on bail awaiting trial in that case when, on Aug. 9, he led Columbus police on a traffic chase on the Far East Side that ended with officers finding four loaded weapons, including an assault rifle, in the sport-utility vehicle he was driving.

The two cases resulted in a combined 12 felony counts. Clarett pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated robbery in the New Year's Day incident and one count of carrying a concealed weapon in the traffic chase.

“First, I'd like to apologize for my behavior and I accept the time that's given to me,'' Clarett said before sentencing.

Fais, following a recommendation from prosecutors and defense attorneys, sentenced Clarett to three years for the aggravated robbery, three years for using a gun in the crime, and 18 months for carrying a concealed weapon.

Clarett, wearing prison garb and bound at the wrists and ankles, smiled broadly as he entered the courtroom shortly after 12:30 p.m.

He responded , “Yes, sir,'' throughout the proceeding when asked by the judge if he understood his rights and the charges against him.

The Youngstown native helped lead the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship as a freshman but was suspended by Ohio State in 2003 for receiving improper benefits from a friend. He left school and lost a legal battle for early entry into the National Football League.

The Denver Broncos selected Clarett in the third round of last year's draft but released him during training camp.

[Groundhog]

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/53086

Maurice Clarett Shows Up Late For Prison Camp
September 21, 2006 | Onion Sports


COLUMBUS, OH—Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett began his new career as an inmate with the Ohio state prison system by showing up over eight hours late for his first day at Chillicothe State Correctional Camp, a move that did not sit well with officials. "For a rookie in our system to start out like this is a big mistake, to put it mildly," said warden Samuel Gordon, who had been looking forward to overseeing the eight-year deal for aggravated assault Clarett plead guilty to on Tuesday. "Your best bet around here is to blend in, keep your head down, and toe the line at roll call and during cell searches. Act like you're above the law around here and you'll soon find out how wrong you are." Chillicothe management has already taken steps to curtail Clarett's undesirable behavior by assigning him to room with Curtis "Big Sweetie" McCulloch, a 12-year veteran known for his prowess in breaking in new recruits.

[SunDevil]

You really can not make any of this up. The sad thing, is that he will have a book and movie deal by the time all this is over with.

[Eaglesfan27]

Nevermind, I just noticed the source. :)