TUSCALOOSA, AL (WSFA) -
The University of Alabama has confirmed that four Crimson Tide football players have been arrested. Head football coach Nick Saban issued a statement saying the athletes are "indefinitely suspended".
"The University and football program have strict guidelines regarding issues of this magnitude," Saban said in a statement. "This behavior is unacceptable for any student-athlete at the University of Alabama and not representative of our football program."
On Monday the University of Alabama Police Department received reports of two robberies, the first occurring at approximately 12:35 a.m. in the 800 block of Campus Drive and the second at approximately 1:20 a.m. in the 200 block of 7th Avenue.
Both victims reported that they were assaulted and their belongings were taken. Court documents show the victims were knocked unconscious.
Here are the four student-athletes and their charges:
- Tyler Hayes was arrested on two counts of Robbery 2.
- Dennis Pettway was arrested on two counts of Robbery 2.
- Eddie Williams was arrested on two counts of Robbery 2 and one count of Fraudulent Use of a Debit Card.
- Brent Calloway was arrested on one count of Fraudulent Use of a Debit Card.
UAPD's investigation led to the identification of the four student-athletes, suspects in both incidents. Each was arrested and booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail. They have all since bonded out.
Calloway has admitted to using a stolen debit card and Williams and Hayes have confessed to the robberies.
"This is a very serious matter and we are very disappointed in the actions that have resulted in the charges against these student-athletes," said UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore. "In this type of situation, the Athletics Department works in conjunction with the University. We will have more to say at the appropriate time."
Williams, a 5-star freshman recruit, could be in the most trouble. This is the second arrest for Williams in a matter of days. Tuscaloosa police arrested him around 2:45 a.m. on February 10 following a disturbance call. Officers arrested Williams for carrying a pistol without a permit.
The incident occurred at a BP gas station on University Blvd. where a clerk called police to say someone had come into the store acting erratic and threatening that he had something in the trunk of his vehicle after a dispute about paying for gas. The clerk told police they'd called after the suspect and other occupants of their car left the store and started messing with something in the trunk of the vehicle.
Tuscaloosa police initiated a traffic stop a short time later on a red 2007 Honda Accord, of which Williams was a passenger. He was arrested after a pat down lead to the discovery of a pistol in his pants pocket that he did not have a permit to carry. He was held on a $500 bond.
It's likely that none of the four will ever play another game for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Copyright 2013 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.
Eddie Williams III (Source: Tuscaloosa Police Dept.)
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