Javarris James busted for marijuana possession charge

Javarris James has gone from locked out to briefly locked up.

James, a former Immokalee High football star and current Indianapolis Colts running back, was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession Thursday in Fort Myers during a routine traffic stop. He is scheduled to appear in court June 28 after posting $1,000 bond on one count of possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana.

Fort Myers police officers pulled over the 23-year-old at about 6:45 p.m. over concerns about the level of tint on his windows. Upon approaching James’ black Audi, officers smelled marijuana and found several pieces of pot on the floorboard between the passenger seat and the center console, according to the arrest report.

The report states James had 0.4 grams of marijuana in his car.

Online records show he was booked about 9:30 p.m. Thursday and released on bond one hour later.

With the National Football League owners and players at odds over a new collective bargaining agreement, players have been locked out since March. In past years, the Colts have scheduled offseason minicamps intermittently throughout May and June, sessions that aren’t taking place during the lockout.

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney told the Associated Press that some of the team’s players are gathering for private workouts, but it isn’t known whether James is included in the group.

James followed in the footsteps of his cousin, Edgerrin James, who also played at Immokalee, Miami and for the Colts.

After going undrafted out of the University of Miami in 2010, James signed a free-agent deal with the Colts.

Indianapolis cut James before the season’s start but signed him for the final 12 games of the year after injuries depleted its backfield. He carried 46 times for 112 yards and six touchdowns, recording a pair of scores twice during the season.

At Miami, James rushed for 2,162 yards and 18 touchdowns, though his best season came as a freshman with 802 yards. James led Immokalee in 2004 to a state title under head coach John Weber.

“I am extremely disappointed,” Weber said Friday of James’ arrest. “I would have never expected this to happen but I guess a lot of things happen.”

Indianapolis Colts officials could not be reached for comment Friday, though NFL teams haven’t been commenting on player arrests during the lockout.

The arrest report lists a local Fort Myers address for James. He could not be reached for comment Friday.


(naplesnews.com)