February 23, 2005

Beaver players try to pay cabbie with pot

Oregon State head coach Mike Riley has suspended two players following their arrest early Friday morning. Jimtavis Walker, a transfer from Florida expected to start at tailback this fall, and Star Paddock, a walk-on snapper, were "charged with robbery in the third degree, theft of services, harassment, assault in the fourth degree and attempted delivery of a controlled substance."

The police report alleges that, around 2:52 a.m. Friday, Paddock and Walker first tried to pay a $20 cab fare with food and, when the cabbie refused, offered marijuana for the payment.The cab driver also claims that Walker had "a sandwich bag full of pot."

The cabbie's narrative indicates the players had been drinking and that Walker threw a burger at him and berated him for not taking the marijuana as payment before lighting up a joint.

More from the police and news reports:

The driver said Paddock pushed him and slammed the door of the cab on his knee. He said he had a bruised right shoulder and a scar on his knee from the incident. He said the players also took his clipboard, which contained approximately $52 in charge slips from previous fares, plus his itinerary and other information.

No marijuana was found in the apartment where Taylor and Paddock were arrested, which is where receivers Kevin Swanigan and Marcel Love reside. However, police say they found "flakes or residue" around the toilet.

Seven Oregon State players have been arrested since November 12, including the arrest of four players involved in a racial brawl with an Oregon National Guardsman. Those four players missed the Oregon game, remained suspended for the bowl game and are still not with the team. Days after that brawl, center Brent Bridges was charged with assault after a fight in the same bar.

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