A&M-Commerce football players arrested in drug bust

Students Dionte Garrett and Deandre' Bowers were arrested Feb. 19 after several bags of marijuana, pills and other drug paraphernalia were found in apartment A1 of McGill Hall by Sgt. Chris Vaughan of the Commerce Police Department.

The students are both football players for Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Lt. Jason Bone of the University Police Department said the arrests made this morning were in the same apartment where two previous drug-related incidents have occurred. As reported in the Feb. 18 issue of The East Texan, UPD police officers responded to an emergency call where a potential football recruit was vomiting last month. Upon arriving UPD questioned football players Danny Masson, Cherrod Simpson and Bowers about the ill player. UPD ascertained information that the sick recruit and Simpson had smoked marijuana in apartment A1 that evening.

Another incident occurred in the same apartment prior to last month's. Bone said UPD was contacted by a resident adviser who said she smelled marijuana. Upon arrival Bone said UPD officers found evidence of a "roach," but there was not enough marijuana to warrant an arrest.

Bone could not confirm or deny if the parties arrested in the morning raid were the same involved in either of the previous incidents.

The two players were arrested after an undercover narcotics investigation was conducted by Vaughan. According to a press release from CPD, Vaughan began the investigation after he was approached by a confidential source regarding the issue. During Vaughan's investigation purchases of marijuana were made at McGill Hall, one of the West Halls.

After the sales Vaughan was able to obtain probable cause for a search warrant, which netted the arrests. The marijuana, which was seized during the arrests, was packaged to sell, according to the report.

According to Bone, CPD led the investigation and UPD only aided in the area of perimeter security.

President Dan Jones said he was made aware of the current situation by Athletic Director Carlton Cooper. Jones, who is currently out-of-town, said he has not been informed of any developments since this morning.

Jones said it is always disappointing to hear about students acting inappropriately, but is not jumping to conclusions.

"It's early in the investigation," he said.

More to come as this story develops.