Alec Ogletree, a freshman safety on the Georgia football team, was expected to turn himself in later Friday after an arrest warrant was issued for him on a charge of "theft by taking."
The charge stems from a June 15 incident when a member of the Georgia track team reported a $35 motorcycle helmet as stolen from outside the Rankin Smith center.
According to the police report Petr Novotny, a member of the UGA track team from the Czech Republic, reported the helmet being stolen at 10:54 p.m. on June 15. Novotny told police he had left his helmet unsecured on his scooter outside the Rankin Smith building.
"Within the last day or two, the helmet was located and found in the possession of a person who has been identified as Alec Ogletree," said Jimmy Williamson, the chief of UGA Police.
A warrant was issued on Thursday.
"We have had conversations with football officials and they are making arrangements to have him turn himself in around mid-morning,” Williamson said.
Williamson added that Ogletree would probably make bond quickly and be released.
Georgia associate athletics director Claude Felton said head coach Mark Richt was aware of the situation, but did not expect any comment from Richt until the afternoon.
This obviously was not what Georgia wanted to be dealing with, again, a day before its season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.
The news comes a week after tailback Washaun Ealey became the eighth Georgia football player to be arrested this year. Ealey was picked up on three misdemeanor charges, and has been suspended for a minimum of one game.
Ogletree was one of the few true freshman expected to play in the season opener. The product of Newnan High School is the twin brother of another Bulldog freshman, fullback Alexander "Zander" Ogletree.
Friday, September 3, 2010
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25 comments:
Are we the preseason favorite for next year's Fulmer Cup?
Interesting, they've had the case under review since June? And they come down with the warrant the day before the opening game?
Not to diminish this, but the UGA police ARE taking out warrants for possession of stolen property on every road sign they find in a dorm aren't they?
They have a six hour window of when it might have been taken but know for sure it was him? A $35 helmet... did they fingerprint the place? Do a DNA inquiry? I bet it took almost three months to get lab results...
This is crazy.
We are talking the UGA police. We see them every home game Saturday so how could anyone be surprised by this?This IS crazy!!!!
Columbus needs to hire some of these UGA campus police officers. I had a $600 handgun stolen out of my truck 4 months ago and haven't heard squat! These guys are hot on the trail looking for the $35 helmet. Geez....
I'm positive that there is security video footage. Probably both of the theft and in the parking lot (license tags)
If we're lucky, someone borrowed tree's car. Regardless, CMR has brought thug u to athens.
This is NUTS!
- the event happened in June
- there was a three month investigation over a THIRTY FIVE DOLLAR item
- the pubic arrest warrant is issued one day before the season starts
I'm not excusing the behavior, but this whole thing just doesn't make sense. It is almost as if the police in Athens (local and university) have a side bet on who can bring the most amount of negative publicity to the school.
I'm just saying.........
This sucks for many reasons none of which make much sense.
My only hope - Ogletree bought the helmet and didn't know it was stolen but..............
If I had any hair left I'd be pulling it out by the handful.
Read Seth's links...
The helmet was found in Ogletree's possession Thursday, which is why the warrant was taken out then, and not in June when the theft occurred.
I don't know what this kid did but come on! The timing is ridiculous. Someone in the campus police dept. has it in for these players.
Why theft by taking and not posession of stolen property?
If security tape exists why the 3 month lapse?
not a good year to be a georgia bulldog fan.
funny that all the dawg fans are totally ok with their football players stealing things from other students, as long as it doesn't interfere with the season.
you people are part of the problem.
"You people are part of the problem"
Don't y'all love this type of intelligent take on matters!
Alec Ogletree is an idiot.
Not that I am to make any excuses here but UGA cops are the worst!! When I was a student at UGA I know all they liked to do was throw their weight around like some kid that good picked on all their life and for once had a little power. Who the hell gets a warrant sworn out over $35?!?!? Do they really not have anything better to do with their time? GET AN F*&%ING LIFE!!
Interesting that we never hear of players arrested in Clemson, SC or Auburn, AL or (fill in the blank). Not excusing bad behavior, but the enforcement and attendant publicity by UGA Campus police as well as Athens/Clarke County is substantially different toward athletes than in other college towns. I don't think UGA players are that much worse than others. I don't think the local "authorities" love to bust UGA players.
Language, people.
I've had to remove a few comments, including a few well-reasoned ones, just because of a bad word or two. Please, keep it civil.
I think Ogletree should get kicked off the team.
I think Ogletree should get kicked out of school.
I think Ogletree should get tar and feathered.
I think Ogletree should get some serious time in the slammer.
On that note, I think Richt should get fired over this.
I think Richt should have to serve time because he can't keep his team from such huge, major life mistakes.
Richt should learn to be more like Meyer or Dooley. Their players behave soooo much better.
If he did it,
I don't care how much the helmet was worth, or how much bullying the UGAPD did, he should be punished severely and probably dismissed.
The 18 yr old MAN took something that didn't belong to him on purpose. HE decided to steal the helmet. It's not Richt's fault, it's not UGAPD's fault, IT IS HIS FAULT!!!
He decided, although he was blessed with rare talent, given the opportunity to show it off to a national audience on a regular basis, get a free eduction, room, board, food, tutoring, clothes, trips, status, a chance at a free degree and/or a chance to play for the NFL, I'd rather have a $35 helmet that isn't mine.
Blame Ogletree and no one else.
IF he did it.
Hi, my name is Scott.
I overreact to other people's screw ups.
I agree with Scott and obviously there has to be more to this story. I'm sure the person who had the helmet stolen knew who had it and most likely tried to get it back. When Ogletree did not return it he likely went to the police. I'm not sure why he just didn't keep this within the confines of the school or athletic program, nonetheless Ogletree probably just thought the other guy wouldn't do anything about it. Well guess he was wrong.
The uga police puts a hurtin on them dogs worse than Fla or Ala ever thought of I think the players ought to make him run the gauntlet.
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