Blog React
Photo by UTSports.com
Brian Williams. Williams was in the right rear passenger seat.
Photo by UTSports.com
Melvin Goins. Goins was in the left rear passenger seat.
Photo by UTSports.com
Tyler Smith. Smith was in the right front passenger seat.
Photo by UTSports.com
Cameron Tatum. Tatum was driving the 2010 Dodge Charger.
KNOXVILLE - Four University of Tennessee basketball players remain free on bond today, a day after their arrests on drug and weapons charges when a Knoxville police officer stopped the car they were riding in for speeding on Alcoa Highway near Kingston Pike.
The four, who posted bond Friday night, are: Cameron Tatum, who was driving the vehicle; Tyler Smith, who was sitting in the front seat; Melvin Goins, a rear seat passenger; and Brian Williams, also sitting in the backseat.
All four face misdemeanor charges. Knoxville lawyer Don Bosch said today he is representing Smith, but had no further comment. Bosch recently represented Tennessee football player Janzen Jackson, who was charged with two teammates in a Nov. 12 armed robbery. All charges against Jackson were eventually dropped.
Knoxville police say information they previously released that Smith and Williams faced felony charges was incorrect.
UT coach Bruce Pearl suspended the four players late Friday.
“I’m deeply saddened and troubled by today’s news,’’ Pearl said Friday. “Accordingly, I’m suspending Melvin, Cameron, Tyler and Brian pending further information.
“I apologize for the embarrassment this has brought to the university.”
According to Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk, a KPD officer stopped the car about 11:30 a.m. Friday. He smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car as he spoke with the driver. He requested back-up and a K9 officer.
After the officer’s dog signaled the presence of drugs in the vehicle, the four young men were removed from the car so police could search it.
Inside the vehicle, according to DeBusk, officers found a handgun under the driver’s seat, “accessible by either the driver or left rear seat passenger.” They also found a handgun, with an altered serial number under the passenger seat, accessible by either the front seat passenger or right rear seat passenger, according to DeBusk.
They also found a baggy of marijuana and an open container of alcohol.
“It could not be determined if the driver and passengers were under the influence of marijuana or not, although the strong odor indicated that marijuana had been recently smoked in the car,” according to a statement from DeBusk. “Because of this, physical arrests were made instead of misdemeanor citations for the misdemeanor charges.”
Tatum, 21, faces charges of illegal possession of a gun and having an open container of alcohol. His bond was set at $1,000.
Smith, 23, faces charges of illegal possession of a gun and possession of a gun with an altered serial number. His bond was set at $2,000.
Goins, 22, faces charges of illegal possession of a gun and possession of marijuana. His bond was set at $1,500.
Williams, 22, faces charges of illegal possession of a gun, possession of a gun with an altered serial number and possession of marijuana. His bond was set at $2,500.
DeBusk said the vehicle used was a Dodge Charger and had Illinois plates. A source told the News Sentinel the vehicle was a rental and was borrowed from a player’s friend.
UT compliance office is expected to look into the relationship between the players and the person responsible for the rental car to determine if the NCAA would deem it to be a violation of the extra benefit rule.
Smith is a senior and the starting power forward, Tatum is a redshirt sophomore who has started on the wing, Williams is a junior backup center and Goins is a junior college transfer who is the backup point guard.
The 14th-ranked Vols (10-2) flew back from Memphis Thursday night after defeating the Tigers 66-59.
UT’s next game is Wednesday at Thompson-Boling Arena against Charlotte.
Smith has started all 12 games and is averaging 11.7 points per game and 4.7 rebounds. Tatum has started 6 games and is averaging 8.7 points per game. Williams has averaged 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds off the bench. Goins has made one start and is averaging 6.1 points.
Smith announced in June he would not enter the NBA draft. Pearl said when it became apparent that Smith was not “locked down” as a first-round pick, Smith weighed that against his opportunity to return to UT and graduate and lead the team.
Smith said he considered playing in Europe but never seriously pursued it.
“There was a very slim chance I’d go there,” Smith said. “I thought about it, but you can’t get better fan support and exposure over there than you can right here at the University of Tennessee.”
More details as they develop online and in Sunday’s News Sentinel.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 113
paradisetaxi writes:
ive met BW'S Mom, and i sure wouldnt want to be him.
vet4ut writes:
This is known as a "KNS Special".
Repeat 98% of the information from a previous article but rename it and Bam!!!!, a brand new article.
paradisetaxi writes:
ohhhh 1st !
Ringside writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
chazz25 writes:
kns is really on their "A" game today huh
Plasticman writes:
These guys should not wear the Orange ever again... Get rid of the riff-raff Pearl and you'll sleep much better at night.You also might actually have a team left that will do what you ask them to on (and off) the court.
lail#204076 (staff) writes:
Yeah, we are. Thanks!
-- jack lail
knoxville news sentinel
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
Time for Hopson to step it up. No more excuses.
james#216392 writes:
No trial yet, no quilty pleads. Ever hear of innocent until proven guity? Let's hold off on the premature judgments until we see who is guilty, who might have been along for the ride and who is to blame. I'm sure there will be plently to bash but its a little too early right now.
Side note:
I am watching KY right now and Cousins is a thug but he does it on the court. The refs let him. This is three times this year he should have been ejected.
lail#204076 (staff) writes:
This is a continuing story. We have to reset it every once in awhile.
-- jack lail
knoxville news sentinel
SFOrange writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Talentonloan writes:
That's some damned expensive dope they're smoking there. Kinda like Ricky Williams. His junk cost him millions!
BTW where is the "legalize pot" crowd on this one. Still think it's not harmfull?
Etacovda_00 writes:
Is it just me or does Tyler Smith resemble an older Stewie from Family Guy? Probably me
readwriteteach writes:
How long before those with the power and authority to force changes at UT are sufficiently ashamed of these sorts of (increasingly too common) events that they push UT Athletics into recruiting scholar athletes who, both while at UT and after leaving, might in fact enhance the reputation of the University as a University rather than (only, if at all) as a money making sports franchise.
lail#204076 (staff) writes:
You must have missed the "everybody does it" wave that passed through earlier.
-- jack lail
kns
JCJ1986 writes:
What's up with the KNS bashing? I like their coverage. I'd like to see some of you geniuses write a newspaper article. Half of you high school dropouts can't even differentiate between your and you're. How many times have we seen this: your an idiot. Keep up the good work KNS.
Fryinpansvols writes:
CBP is put in a difficult situation. When Major Wingate failed a drug test for Marijuana a few years back Coach Pearl kicked him off the team. Same for Duke Crews and Ramar Smith. Now he has four players including his star in Tyler Smith and the other three who play a significant amount of time that have committed bigger crimes but if he kicks them off the team we can forget any chance at a special season. So what do you do as a coach who has always stuck to his guns on his disciplinary actions? I know I wouldn't know what to do. You have to be consistent and make a stand to show these young Student Athletes that driving and riding around with guns and Marijuana will not be tolerated. My full support is with you Coach Pearl with whatever you decide. GBO.
chazz25 writes:
didnt mean to ruffle the feathers just would like to see more stuff that we havent read already. i do realize sometimes you have to repeat the story and thats ok but would really like to hear more about the good things the other players are doing
chazz25 writes:
BTW i do have a college degree and have written more than my share of papers and reports. some do go out just to bash people and reporters because they can. if i came across that way i sincerely apolgize.
VOLKING writes:
The Kns staff is now responding to comments? Good grief. Now I know how JA keeps his job.
onevol writes:
This is not on the KNS. They are just reporting the facts. It is going to be interesting to see who rented this vehicle and how long it is going to take to do a self report to the NCAA.
I know that Orgeron said that we will not be recruiting saints, but I am becoming more and more concerned about the great individuals that we recruit to UT. I am even more surprised that we have so many members of the NRA that are interested in playing at UT.
silicon28 writes:
Thanks Jack... Some of us appreciate the work you all do. (And absolutely great post! LOL :)
Volie writes:
Chris Dunkly doesnt like UT and commits to Fl - KNS.
vol75 writes:
Agree. Pearl has consistently shown that he will not tolerate behavior of this type. Can't see him backing down now. You cannot sacrifice a program for one season. It is unconscienable that KDP reported incorrectly that there were felony charges. Final action should be based upon evidence and facts. I hope these young men learn from their mistake. But wearing the orange should be about doing things the right way.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Whoever was "along for the ride" had no business being there.
It's the prevailing culture within UT athletics that is permitting and even encouraging this thuggish behavior.
I know Kiffin is shameless, but he is apparently not the only one.
Southland writes:
I am glad the reporters are speaking out on here. Wished that it would continue. Wished John Adams would come on here. John Adams called for the death penalty when the violations and arrests were piling up while Johnny Majors was the coach. Way back in 89 or 90. He said it was time for UT to get more than a slap on the wrist. Wonder were the strong words are today cause someone besides the Kiffin Koolaid drinkers need to hear some serious stuff so they can understand all this junk amounts to the lack of instituitional control. Need a strong article even if we are all ashamed of it and angered by it so something will be done to right the ship. Love the Vols and always will but it is time to as someone said "burn the barn down and kill the rats" and to that I would add stop bringing rats in and expecting them to turn into good citizens.
streetrod writes:
Where did they get the car?
korsakov writes:
It's looks like it's time for Bruce Pearl to draw a line in the sand and let the players know he's serious about following the rules. That's why Pat Summit doesn't have problems.
Ironcity writes:
Fryinpan Pearl kicked those guys off for REPEATED offenses of smoking dope. This is not even close. If Pearl does what he did then they will all be suspended for a week or two. Those guys all got suspended after initial failings and then came back. The University has set the policy not the coaches. Pearl will do what he should do based on the rules in place. Believe it or not losing Wingate was much more devastating to that team then it would be to lose any or all of these guys. Wingate was the best defender we ever had on the baseline against the press. He also neutralized every talented big man we ever faced. He was weak rebounder and had no offensive game but we had plenty of offensive weapons and didn't need any production from him.
The gun issue does add an element and I don't know what that will bring.
Ironcity writes:
Pat doesn't have trouble because they are women. No women's coaches in the country have trouble. Mens teams all over have problems. South Carolina had to kick a guy off just today for repeated offenses.
cemeadows3 writes:
Uh, I'm not debating about legalization, I'm just trying to figure out how, of all things bad in this story, you pinpoint the "pot" as harmful...? I think the guns could potentially cause more "harm', and in terms of legalities, the open container of alcohol is just as illegal as pot.
You probably have another agenda with making that comment, or want to stir a legalize pot debate to which you're locked and loaded with an opinion...Before you go targeting me as such, it's neither here nor there to me, but in terms of "harm" that you relate to pot with this story, that appears to be the least of things that worried me about their actions...
halloffamebowler writes:
Jack,Why waste your time replying to the ignorant?
p3t3rpan writes:
Probably because it is a Federal Felony, not a city/county/state issue. See Gun Control Act of 1968, Pub. L. No. 90-618, 82 Stat. 1213.
TennTusky writes:
Good question, "streetrod." Here are a dozen more questions that are also still unsanswered:
1. Who rented the vehicle being driven by Cameron Tatum, and when?
2. Tennessee's registry of gun owners shows no records of ownership for Tyler Smith, Cameron Tatum, Brian Williams, or Melvin Goins. Then where did these guns come from?
3. These players were supposedly stopped for speeding yet the driver was not reported as charged with speeding. Would this be a basis for a lawyer to make a legal defense that they were being profiled, and ask for all charges to be dismissed?
4. If one or two of the players come forward and claim responsibility, would that allow charges against the remaining players to be dismissed?
5. How have local courts handled other cases where college students are charged with possession of drugs and guns?
6. Regardless of what the courts do, what will Coach Pearl do?
7. Regardless of what Coach Pearl does, what will the athletic director do?
8. Regardless of what the athletic director does, what will UT's president do?
9. How long until we see a T-shirt that says, "You can't spell 'THUG' without UT"?
10. What will the NCAA do?
11. What will the NRA do?
12. What discipline will Student Judicial Affairs impose? (possession fo a weapon is strictly prohibited - see page 39 of the 2009-2010 student policy guide at http://dos.utk.edu/files/hilltopics_0... )
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
The article says it was a rental car, borrowed from a player's friend. Could that mean they didn't know about the guns under the seats??
atlkevin writes:
If you believe Rupert Murdoch (and I tend to), all online news content will move to a subscription model, whereby people will have to pay for access to KNS online content.
I, for one, welcome the day. Since so many regular viewers of this board loathe the KNS, I'm sure your cheap butts won't pony up the money to subscribe. And, hopefully, we won't have to deal with your constant bashing comments.
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
UT is in Austin? Ummm, sorry chump, but the real UT was founded 50 years before the state of Texas even existed, and about 100 years before the University of Texas existed.
Thanks for playing.
Try again later.
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
1. The article says it was borrowed from a player's friend.
2. Maybe that means they weren't their guns, and they might not have even known they were in the car.
3. That's really stretching.
4. Probably.
10. The NCAA has nothing to do with it, unless the borrowed car turns out to be an illegal benefit under NCAA rules.
11. Comic relief?
12. Did you even read what you posted a link to?
Possession of weapons is prohibited "on university property." This didn't take place on university property, so Student Judicial Affairs have nothing to do with it.
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
You mean, you always enjoy proving what an idiot you are. Yes, the "real" Paris and Moscow are in France and Russia. The difference is, those were in France and Russia long before the towns in Tennessee existed. Your argument is retarded, but thank you for adding more proof to my statement of fact about the real UT versus the one in Texas.
chazz25 writes:
chances are that if they had weed and open alcohol then they probably knew the guns were under the seat. on a side note, why would anyone be drinking at that time of day anyway. no time is a good time especially that early
randyarnold writes:
Many have mentioned the fact that the car was "borrowed from a friend of a player." How long before the fall guy steps up and takes the rap? This way, the players are only suspended for a couple of games ("I swear Coach, we didn't know what was in the car.") and everyone in Obknoxville can pretend nothing happened. On the road, however, expect a few catcalls.
VolNWA writes:
Thanks for playing copycat utex -- you lost. We still are the original.
Oh, and let's talk about a "substantive athletic measure" (besides where the best forensics program in the nation is): In 2008 ESPN aired their finalists for "TitleTown." Knoxville, BUT NOT Austin was a finalist. Hmm....
tweetdriver63#346474 writes:
I haven't read anything that says they were drinking that early, just that there was an open container. For those in need, an empty beer can is an open container, even if it's been empty for days, and is crushed.
Biggunzz44 writes:
Growing up in the 70's we always had pot smell in our car, so its hard for me to bash kids for doing what I did. What I dont understand is the need for guns by College Students. Yes pot is illegal right now, but so was alcohol at one time. I think they gotta go for the gun issue, as we must stop kids from packing heat. The only thing the pot would hurt is if they ate too many Oreos and got fat. I know Im setting myself up for anti pot smoking, but come on, if we kicked every College Student out of Sports, Cheerleading and band that smoked a joint, I guess we could only watch the NFL, as College Sports would end. I say send em packing for the guns in the car. If you need a gun, buy it legally and get a permit to carry, its not hard to do.
splinterdand#602266 writes:
Who cares what thugs UK has. And what's this innocent until proven guilty phooey? There was marijuana and alcohol in the car. I'm sure that using that stuff is against Pearl's team rules. I'm sick of jackasses like this giving UT athletics a bad name. Boot them all, Pearl! I don't care if we win another game. Take a stand and boot those idiots!
kthoma14 writes:
Don't apologize Chazz25. Vet4UT is correct. This is the KNS special. Just like the "funny" sports articles Adam's throws out when he wants to take a day off. Just remember the same thing I do when I get angry when someone messes up my order at a fast food place: If they were brain surgeons, they wouldn't be working here. Same for KNS, if they were great reports, they would be working at the AJC or The Tennessean.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
I agree 100%. A lot of people feel this free site is part of their "entitlement program" to go along with their food stamps, etc.
navarrebeachvol writes:
Please state your case against Kiffin and "lack of institutional control" if you can, moron. Secondary violations that number equal or less than the rest of the SEC?
BigHornBuckShot writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
These 4 players should have gone out with a bang and had hostesses with them for a real party!
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