2008 Woodie Awards
Football player charged with drug possession
Robby Trail
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: News
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UTC football player Emanuel Hassell was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with simple possession after a police officer pulled him over for a routine traffic violation and found a bag of marijuana under the driver's seat.
"The officer smelled marijuana smoke coming from the window," University Spokesperson Chuck Cantrell said. "She searched the car and found a baggie which she suspected was marijuana."
Hassell was also charged with driving on a suspended license and not having current proof of insurance, Cantrell said.
Eldra Buckley, another football player, and a potential football recruit were also in the vehicle, according to the police report.
Hassell was the only one charged in the incident, which occurred on Douglas Street.
This marks the second time in four months that a football player has been in trouble with the law, as six players were arrested and charged after an Oct. 21 incident where a UTC student accused the players of gang raping her.
The case against the six players was dismissed two weeks ago after a Hamilton County judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to take the case to a grand jury.
Mocs football coach Rodney Allison said Hassell has been suspended from the team indefinitely, pending an investigation.
He declined to confirm whether the third person in the vehicle was a potential recruit, saying he would not comment on anything else until the investigation was complete.
Cantrell said Hassell was arrested and charged, but not booked by police and will turn himself in to be booked in the future. The police report states Hassell must turn himself in to the Hamilton County Jail by Feb. 28.
"The situation will be turned over to Jim Hicks or somebody in student development to determine university disciplinary action," he said.
The UTC student code of conduct states students will be punished for "unlawful use, manufacture, possession, distribution or dispensing of drugs or alcohol on university property or during university activities." The code does not define the punishment for violating this policy.
Hicks said the typical punishment for simple possession is removal from campus housing and a lengthy university conduct probationary period.
Hassell told police that he, Buckley and the potential recruit were returning from a party. He told the arresting officer he had no idea where the bag came from, but that his cousin had been smoking earlier that day, the report stated.
Hassell, a wide receiver, had 52 catches for 548 yards last season, leading the team in both categories.
"The officer smelled marijuana smoke coming from the window," University Spokesperson Chuck Cantrell said. "She searched the car and found a baggie which she suspected was marijuana."
Hassell was also charged with driving on a suspended license and not having current proof of insurance, Cantrell said.
Eldra Buckley, another football player, and a potential football recruit were also in the vehicle, according to the police report.
Hassell was the only one charged in the incident, which occurred on Douglas Street.
This marks the second time in four months that a football player has been in trouble with the law, as six players were arrested and charged after an Oct. 21 incident where a UTC student accused the players of gang raping her.
The case against the six players was dismissed two weeks ago after a Hamilton County judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to take the case to a grand jury.
Mocs football coach Rodney Allison said Hassell has been suspended from the team indefinitely, pending an investigation.
He declined to confirm whether the third person in the vehicle was a potential recruit, saying he would not comment on anything else until the investigation was complete.
Cantrell said Hassell was arrested and charged, but not booked by police and will turn himself in to be booked in the future. The police report states Hassell must turn himself in to the Hamilton County Jail by Feb. 28.
"The situation will be turned over to Jim Hicks or somebody in student development to determine university disciplinary action," he said.
The UTC student code of conduct states students will be punished for "unlawful use, manufacture, possession, distribution or dispensing of drugs or alcohol on university property or during university activities." The code does not define the punishment for violating this policy.
Hicks said the typical punishment for simple possession is removal from campus housing and a lengthy university conduct probationary period.
Hassell told police that he, Buckley and the potential recruit were returning from a party. He told the arresting officer he had no idea where the bag came from, but that his cousin had been smoking earlier that day, the report stated.
Hassell, a wide receiver, had 52 catches for 548 yards last season, leading the team in both categories.
