Updated at 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, October 2, 2007
CFB: Florida captain arrested, charged with burglary
Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida safety Tony Joiner was arrested early today and charged with felony burglary, police said.
Joiner, a senior captain who ranks fifth on the ninth-ranked Gators with 20 tackles, was arrested around 5 a.m. outside the fenced impound lot of a towing company, Gainesville police said.
Joiner was accused of pushing an electric gate open to enter the lot in an attempt to retrieve his girlfriend's car, which was being held in lieu of a $76 towing bill, a police report said.
According to the report, witnesses said Joiner opened the gate to the towing company, got into a car, drove out of the lot and was trying to close the gate when he was confronted by one of the witnesses. The witness said Joiner drove back into the lot and waited for police to arrive.
The arresting officer, Robert Concannon, wrote that Joiner was talking on a phone when he walked up. Concannon said he heard Joiner say, "I am probably about to go to jail 'cuz I did push the gate open."
Florida coach Urban Meyer was aware of Joiner's arrest and planned to address it after practice today.
Joiner's arrest came two days after three players were questioned about a shooting outside a downtown nightclub. The players were not considered suspects, but their names were given to police as people who may have witnessed the shooting that happened several hours after the Gators lost 20-17 to Auburn.
