FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas defensive tackle D.D. Jones was arrested early Wednesday and charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
Jones, 19, was arrested after a traffic stop at 12:37 a.m.and found to be in possession of 8.7 grams of marijuana, accord i n g to a preliminary report by the Fayetteville Police Department.
Jones, of Bastrop, La., was booked at 6:27 a.m. into the Washington County Detention Center, and released after posting $660 bond at 10:12 a.m. He faces a Nov. 22 hearing on the charge in Fayetteville District Court.
“I’m very disappointed,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “It’s something we don’t want to see happen, particularly during the week of a game.”
Jones, a sophomore who has started all seven gamesthis season, did not practice Wednesday. Junior Lavunce Askew moved up to the first team in a rotation at tackle with Byran Jones and Alfred Davis. D.D. Jones ranks ninth on the team with 22 tackles, and he’s forced a fumble.
Jones became Arkansas’ first in-season arrest since defensive end Damario Ambrose was charged with failure to appear last September for a prior speeding ticket.
Petrino did not address Jones’ status for Saturday’s 6 p.m. homecoming game against Vanderbilt, but if the coach’s track record is any indication, Jones is likely to be suspended.
Fullback Van Stumon and offensive tackle Anthony Oden, who were both arrested during the off-season on charges of driving while intoxicated, were each suspended for the season opener and played in the second game.
Linebacker Freddy Burton and former Arkansas receiver Marques Wade were suspended for two games to open the 2008 season after off-season DWI arrests.
Jones became the 13th Arkansas player arrested for an offense committed while Petrino was the coach that didn’t involve speeding tickets, and the sixth player signed by Petrino’s staff to be arrested, following quarterback Ryan Mallett (public intoxication), linebacker Khiry Battle (driving under the influence), Askew (theft of property, charge later dropped), cornerback David Gordon (possession of a controlled substance) and Oden. Battle was dismissed from the team and Gordon transferred to Oklahoma State.
A Fayetteville Police Department spokesman said 8.7 grams is comparable to a quarter ounce, and far short of the 28.6-gram threshold at which a felony charge can be brought.
Jones was pulled over by Fayetteville Police at 12:37 a.m. on Leverett Avenue because his white GMC Suburban had no vehicle license lights, according to the police report. The officer detected “an overwhelming odor of marijuana” coming from inside the vehicle, and after a backup unit arrived, Jones was asked to exit the Suburban and consented to a pat-down. The search revealed a soft bundle in Jones’ right front pocket, and when asked how much marijuana he had, Jones said about a quarter, according to the report.
Sports, Pages 19 on 10/28/2010