McNeil angry over media reports

The words Josh McNeil used Tuesday afternoon to explain a strange series of events that brought Knoxville police inside his off-campus apartment early Sunday morning came easy.

Those he used to express his displeasure with media for including his girlfriend in early reports of the incident came with much more emotion.

Reading from a prepared statement, McNeil echoed UT coach Phillip Fulmer's explanation of a chain of events that occurred after police arrived around 1:30 a.m. Sunday to investigate a report of a burglary at McNeil's apartment.

McNeil said he accidentally broke a window while entering his apartment after forgetting his keys, and later used a flower pot to clear broken glass from around the window so he could climb in.

He said he had taken Ambien, a sleep-aid for which he has a prescription, and didn't hear police knocking on his front door or later at his bedroom door.

McNeil does not face any disciplinary action for 22nd-ranked Tennessee's key SEC game Saturday game against Arkansas because he was not charged, Fulmer said.

The incident began when a neighbor called 911 after hearing glass break and reported hearing someone enter McNeil's apartment.

According to a police department incident report, officer Jeffrey Damewood arrived at McNeil's South Knoxville apartment and found a broken window with blood smeared on the window frame and a potted plant he believed had been thrown through the window.

As Damewood waited for backup, the report reads, he heard a male and female arguing inside the apartment.

When backup arrived, officers knocked on the front door several times, identifying themselves as police officers.

With no answer at the front door, officer Brian Leatherwood then entered through the broken window, while Damewood and officer Stephen Burchfield entered through the front door.

Once inside, the officers determined that sophomore tight end Jeff Cottam, McNeil's roommate, lived in the apartment.

Cottam was not home when the incident occurred.

Officers also found "several rifles, shotguns and at least one handgun," the report said.

"The guns that were in the house were hunting guns, and they were locked in a case unloaded," Fulmer said. "The pistol actually belongs to Jeff and is registered and used only for hunting purposes."

Officers also found the door to McNeil's bedroom locked.

"At this point, we weren't sure what the situation might (be) or if someone might be locked in that room and be injured or in jeopardy," Damewood wrote in his report.

Officers then contacted Sam Brown, a KPD investigator, who in turn contacted Gerald Harrison, the football program's director of high school relations. Brown often works security for UT events, and athletic department spokeswoman Tiffany Carpenter said it is common practice for Harrison to be notified of an incident involving a football player.

Officers said they yelled several times through McNeil's bedroom door, identifying themselves as police and asking whoever was inside to come out.

According to police, Harrison arrived and "not yelling but in a normal voice" asked McNeil to come outside.

McNeil then emerged and was handcuffed. Officers observed "cuts/scratches that were fresh and had been bleeding" on McNeil's arm.

According to the report, officers saw three females in the bed.

However both McNeil and Fulmer said Tuesday the girls - McNeil's 19-year-old girlfriend and two of her friends visiting for the weekend from Virginia Tech - were sleeping on the floor.

According to police, all four were questioned and denied breaking the window or any argument.

Damewood wrote in his report that when interviewed separately, "all refused to cooperate in the investigation" and that McNeil was "rather indignant towards officers" and "didn't seem to understand the importance of our investigation and our concerns."

All three girls were cited for underage consumption.

McNeil, 20, was not cited, and KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk said McNeil had not been drinking.

McNeil, who immediately left the room after making his comments, said he felt compelled to address reporters about the incident because, "it's not fair that my girlfriend and her friends are being dragged into this."

McNeil concluded his statement by saying, "I know I live in a glass house because of who I am, but I don't want the people I care a lot about being pulled into this."

After his prepared remarks, McNeil became emotional while explaining his displeasure that his girlfriend was included in media reports.

"You all can say anything you want to say about me, but leave the people I care about out of this," he said. "Whoever's putting this stuff out ain't got integrity worth a (expletive). You can say what you want to about me. I'm a grown man. I play football here, and I've heard all I've got to hear.

"My girlfriend is somebody that's important to me. She's not no public figure, she's not no football player or someone who deserves this."

McNeil was suspended for five spring practices in March after being cited for underage consumption following a teammate's birthday party at a Cumberland Avenue club.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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