A state trooper who found marijuana and a gun in a car driven by Arkansas State running back Michael Dyer offered to call his coach even though he worried about “NCAA crap” and other fallout, according to video of a traffic stop released Monday.
Arkansas State Police released the 58-minute video and said it had completed an internal investigation into the March 10 stop. It released no details about the investigation, saying it involved personnel matters almost certainly tied to the actions of Trooper Royce Denney.
Dyer was ticketed for going 96 mph in a 70 mph zone, though audio and video from the stop indicate that either Dyer or another unidentified female were in possession of marijuana and a gun. Denney can be heard on the video talking at length with Dyer about how he should handle the incident.
“What if I talk to (coach) Gus Malzahn, or however you say his name?” Denney asks at one point. “I really don’t want to tell him about this because of the NCAA crap. I know there’s a lot of stuff that goes on behind closed doors between coaches and players. I’m still in a predicament, even if I talk to coach.”
Denney also asks Dyer: “What about the weed?” and whether the running back thought it would be “all out of your system” in a month. He berates Dyer for having a gun, saying “You don’t need it. If you think it makes you look cool, you’re stupid.”
“It (expletive) me off that someone of your stature and your ability does this kind of stupid (expletive),” Denney adds.
The trooper also asked Dyer if the running back wanted him to hold on to the gun, and Dyer says yes.
“I didn’t say keep it,” Denney responds. “Maybe we can get together some other time, and you can have it back after me and coach talk. You understand? ... I’m going to let coach make the decision for me. Or, for you. If he wants me to keep it, I’ll keep it. If he wants me to get it delivered to him, I’ll get it delivered to him or whatever.”
It was unclear whether the trooper contacted Malzahn or Arkansas State about the traffic stop. The Associated Press requested comment from Malzahn at midday Monday. State police spokesman Bill Sadler said Denney is not currently conducting patrols.
Malzahn coached Dyer at Auburn, and recruited the running back to Arkansas State after he was hired to coach the Red Wolves. He dismissed the running back from the team over the weekend, citing an unspecified violation of team rules.
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Shades of then Penn State debacle.
Except the school kicked Dyer off the team and the trooper is being investigated. Which means things were handled appropriately by the superiors of these two people. And kids weren't raped. So, no, it isn't shades of PSU. But thanks for being part of the Row Tahd nation.
It's sickening how a university or how ball players think they are above the law and can get away with everything. How often does stuff like this go on that is not being reported. These people should not be given any special treatment just because of their stature. I bet if any average Joe did this, the trooper wouldn't have worried about what his boss would have thought! Sickening!
This has nothing to do with Penn State and what happened there. Completely different.
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This is just two dumb asses. one who broke the law speeding and another that might loose his job for not following protocol.
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It never says that he was in any violation of the law for him to have the gun. he's 21. he might have a legal concealed weapons permit.
Give his gun back and a slap on the wrist and send him here to decatur to shoot a few people and rob a few and call boo to ride with him they,ll be right at home they can terrorize the town and sell some drugs together and be gangsta homies