(Updated 12:20 p.m.)
Georgia football players Dontavius Jackson and Tavarres King were arrested early this morning by UGA Police, according to Clarke County Jail records.
Jackson, 20, a backup running back, was charged with six misdemeanors: driving under the influence of alcohol, underage possession of alcohol, following too closely, leaving the scene of an accident, violation of the move-over law and violation of learner?s permit.
King, 19, a starting wide receiver, was charged with underage possession of alcohol.
Jackson was booked into the jail at 6:25 a.m. and has not been released, according to jail records. King was jailed at 5:55 a.m. and released at 7:05 a.m. on $500 bond.
UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson told the AJC late this morning that the arrests occurred after a series of events on East Campus Road.
Williamson said two patrol cars were making an unrelated traffic stop when another vehicle ? later determined to be driven by Jackson ? passed at an inappropriate speed and failed to move over. As one of the patrol cars began pursuit of Jackson for violating the move-over law, a third officer put out a radio report of an incident moments earlier in which a vehicle had left the scene of a minor accident, Williamson told the AJC. The vehicle that allegedly left the scene of the accident ? a Chevrolet Avalanche ? matched the description of the one being pursued for the move-over violation, Williamson said.
?It just happened that our officer was behind that vehicle when the third officer put the information on the radio,? Williamson said.
When the vehicle was pulled over, Jackson was driving, with King and three other passengers on board, Williamson said. Police determined the vehicle was involved in the earlier accident, Williamson said.
In addition to King, two other passengers -? not UGA athletes ?- were charged with underage possession of alcohol: Darren Brooks Whatley, 18, and Marygrace Elizabeth Azar, 20. The fifth person in the vehicle wsa not charged, Williamson said.
Williamson said the vehicle that Jackson was driving belongs to King.
Williamson said there were no injuries in the accident that started the series of events. He said he would describe the accident as minor. The following-too-closely charge against Jackson stemmed from that accident, Williamson said.
UGA coach Mark Richt has not commented yet on the arrests. However, Athletic Association policy mandates a suspension of at least one game for a football player arrested on an alcohol-related charge. Georgia opens the season Sept. 4 against Louisiana-Lafayette in Sanford Stadium.
Jackson?s DUI arrest came nine days after UGA athletics director Damon Evans was arrested on a DUI charge in Atlanta, leading to his resignation.
Georgia football players Dontavius Jackson and Tavarres King were arrested early this morning by UGA Police, according to Clarke County Jail records.
Jackson, 20, a backup running back, was charged with six misdemeanors: driving under the influence of alcohol, underage possession of alcohol, following too closely, leaving the scene of an accident, violation of the move-over law and violation of learner?s permit.
King, 19, a starting wide receiver, was charged with underage possession of alcohol.
Jackson was booked into the jail at 6:25 a.m. and has not been released, according to jail records. King was jailed at 5:55 a.m. and released at 7:05 a.m. on $500 bond.
UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson told the AJC late this morning that the arrests occurred after a series of events on East Campus Road.
Williamson said two patrol cars were making an unrelated traffic stop when another vehicle ? later determined to be driven by Jackson ? passed at an inappropriate speed and failed to move over. As one of the patrol cars began pursuit of Jackson for violating the move-over law, a third officer put out a radio report of an incident moments earlier in which a vehicle had left the scene of a minor accident, Williamson told the AJC. The vehicle that allegedly left the scene of the accident ? a Chevrolet Avalanche ? matched the description of the one being pursued for the move-over violation, Williamson said.
?It just happened that our officer was behind that vehicle when the third officer put the information on the radio,? Williamson said.
When the vehicle was pulled over, Jackson was driving, with King and three other passengers on board, Williamson said. Police determined the vehicle was involved in the earlier accident, Williamson said.
In addition to King, two other passengers -? not UGA athletes ?- were charged with underage possession of alcohol: Darren Brooks Whatley, 18, and Marygrace Elizabeth Azar, 20. The fifth person in the vehicle wsa not charged, Williamson said.
Williamson said the vehicle that Jackson was driving belongs to King.
Williamson said there were no injuries in the accident that started the series of events. He said he would describe the accident as minor. The following-too-closely charge against Jackson stemmed from that accident, Williamson said.
UGA coach Mark Richt has not commented yet on the arrests. However, Athletic Association policy mandates a suspension of at least one game for a football player arrested on an alcohol-related charge. Georgia opens the season Sept. 4 against Louisiana-Lafayette in Sanford Stadium.
Jackson?s DUI arrest came nine days after UGA athletics director Damon Evans was arrested on a DUI charge in Atlanta, leading to his resignation.
