The University of South Carolina‘s top football recruit was frisked and released by police early Friday morning after “fitting the description” of a robber alleged to be carrying a firearm, the Charleston Post and Courier is reporting.
Jadeveon Clowney – the No. 1 high school recruit in America – was patted down at around 2:30 a.m. outside of the Salty Nut bar in Five Points, an area of downtown Columbia, S.C frequented by college students. The incident turned ugly, too, as patrons at the bar are alleged to have thrown objects (including beer bottles) at the responding officers.
Prior to the pat-down, witnesses say that Clowney had been given a standing ovation at the bar.
Clowney, 18, has yet to enroll at USC – and it is unclear what he was doing hanging around a bar at 2:30 a.m. He was not arrested or charged with a crime, however he was briefly handcuffed while police searched him. The City of Columbia, S.C. is said to be releasing a report related to the incident soon.
The star recruit told local television station WIS-TV that “They put the cuffs on us, searched us and said ‘we must have the wrong guys.’”
Clowney committed to the Gamecocks last month in one of the most anticipated high school signing announcements ever – choosing USC over Alabama and Clemson. The 6-foot-6, 255-pound defensive end – who is regarded as the most talented high school prospect since Julius Peppers – recorded a whopping 57 sacks over the last two seasons at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, S.C.
He is expected to start at defensive end for the Gamecocks this fall.
UPDATE: Clowney was detained because police had been tipped off about an attempted armed robbery “involving a group of black males with long dreadlocks.”
UPDATE II: Several of the bar patrons who objected to Clowney being detained were arrested for disorderly conduct.
UPDATE III: At a press conference on Friday afternoon, USC head coach Steve Spurrier was cuffed and frisked by Columbia, S.C. police chief Randy Scott in an effort to make light of the incident.
UPDATE IV: Here’s a YouTube video of Clowney being mobbed by Gamecock fans after his release.
Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
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By Crooner March 25, 2011 at 1:36 pm
So the description was “it was a big black guy with a gun?” I’m glad he signed before getting hassled by the Man.
By Mr. Ducks March 25, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Just hangin’ with Garcia.
By SCGUY March 25, 2011 at 2:04 pm
I’m glad to see the young man’s career getting off to a proper USC start.
By Michael P. March 25, 2011 at 2:05 pm
I’ve told people that this guy is going to be another Derek Watson… million dollar body with a 5 cent head. That is if the USC athletic department can get him eligible. Then the football team will have yet another African-American Studies scholar on their team.
By Apostle #21 March 25, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Mike,
Good job on the racism – you’re just the sort of man we need.
Have you thought about joining the brotherhood.
Love,
N.B. Forrest
By joseph reynolds March 25, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Good to see that clemson fans still populate the police force in columbia. Why would you handcuff someone who wasnt causing trouble and was accused of nothing..merely of “looking” like someone???? I guess to cl3emson fdans, being black is still a crime. Of course it is ( in their minds)…look at the latest census figures for pickens and oconnee and anderson county. Whats the black enrollment at clemson..has it broken 5% yet??
I wonder how much cash clemson alumni have offered the cops in order to get them to do that to usc players. Probably enough that they know when they get fired, they will still have a job working for a clemson fan. Dont say “impossible”. Just look at actual history in columbia to know that clemson fans are hired as cops, and they do target usc students-especially athletes.
I guess next they will pull him for “playing his stereo to loud” (Williamston police officers/taters)
or they will set him up and then call the police department or ncaa
(clemson fan “Scooby Snack” and his crue)
By Mike March 25, 2011 at 2:42 pm
You have to be careful when you are a high-profile athlete, but this seems ridiculous. Cuffing him? What a joke.
By CL March 25, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Clowney indicated that there was an arrest associated with the robbery he was stopped for. Sic, why not investigate the actual thief. It would be interesting to see how physically similar he is to Clowney. Might go a long way to determining whether the “fits description” explanation was valid or just racial profiling.
By Michael P. March 25, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Apostle #21 – What as racist about that, if I recall there are white football players with African-American Studies listed as their major. One of the Lindsey (idiot) twins was an AAS major.
So put your race card back in your pocket.
By Michael P. March 25, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Joseph – Is that the best you can do, blame Clemson for having a USC recruit searched by Columbia police? Do Clemson fans have that much pull with the police forces in this city? Maybe Darla Moore needs to up her contribution to the policemen’s retirement fund.
By CNSYD March 25, 2011 at 5:04 pm
The cuffing makes sense if the report the police got was that the individual had a gun. Since the alleged report said the individual with the gun was a black male, why search anyone but the black males?
Joeseph Reynolds looks for Clemson fans behind every thing that happens at USC east. IRT the alleged event in Williamston, didn’t that involve that stellar citizen Derek Watson?
It would seem that SOS would make it crystal clear that no players are to go to 5 Points no matter the time or date. Nothing “good” seems to occur there.
By al March 25, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Players arent going to come to Carolina if they are not allowed to have fun. They are college kids. If they cant go to five points what else is going to make them want to this fantastic city of columbia
By BradWarthenSucks March 25, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Vegas lines have it 100-1 that this won’t be the last time Clowney is in handcuffs.
By Brewster March 26, 2011 at 9:19 am
If you do not walk that beat down there do not be too critical.I am happy Jadevon had no problems. Welcome to Columbia the home of sophisticated crooks that the Columbia PD over looks while taking down the boisteous kids. Find you a hangout where the Legislature and Supreme Cour hang out Jadevon!
By Go Cocks March 26, 2011 at 9:43 am
Columbia Police Department claims mistaken identity led to Clowney being cuffed, detained and frisked in Five Points. Now CPD says the victim doesn’t want to pursue this case to find the real armed robber. Considering the high profile nature of this unfortunate situation the Columbia PD should disclose the name of the victim, or even better yet, the victim should come forward. Was there even a victim or did CPD get overzealous with a star SC football recruit?
By BradWarthenSucks March 26, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Go Cocks – The media rarely releases the names of victims. Would a news story be better if it released the names of rape victims? Gamecock fans are as paranoid as they are fairweather.
By OhNoNotAgain March 26, 2011 at 5:58 pm
The complainant and victim listed on the police report is the officer who responded.
It’s common when they don’t have that info filling out their reports.
By BradWarthenSucks March 26, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Who cares, this is just a trial run for when he moves down here permanently. Get ready Columbia, Demetrius Summers, Derek Watson, Jadeveon Clowney all wear the same shoes.
By Mountain Man March 26, 2011 at 10:24 pm
The Columbia cops were tricked into putting cuffs on Clowney with the description “black man” and “dreds.”
I hope they feel like the fools they are. They got played!
By BradWarthenSucks March 27, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Mountain Man – What you have written had they done nothing? I get the feeling that any law enforcement officer can not do anything right in your mind. Which is why I love watching your redneck family get harassed on Cops.
By Corgigirl March 28, 2011 at 10:06 am
My concern is that an 18 year old high school student was out at a bar at 2:30 AM on a Thursday night, nowhere near his home. Where did his parents think he was? According to the Post & Courier, he was out with Gerald Dixon,Jr., his high school teammate and another USC recruit. I hope these young men are not getting off to a bad start in their careers at USC. Maybe Marcus Lattimore can set an example for them. He’s the kind of student athlete we need to recruit more of.
By John March 28, 2011 at 11:28 am
Oh come on! Give it a break. The guy is huge and the cops did not want to take any chances, both for his safety and theirs. And I agree, why in the hell was a high school senior in a bar in Five Points at 2:30 am. Hopefully, Spurrier has sat him down and explained to him that the eyes of the world are on him.
By NoName March 28, 2011 at 1:42 pm
The Clemson Nation refuses to lose three in a row….no matter what it takes…. they will try and win……taking JC out or hurting him…. is within the ground rules for them…..hell they would leave Halley in place as an Orange Gov if it helps.
One thing you Clemson people do not get…..Spurrier is not from SC….he is from Tennessee….and they know how to clan fight in Society Hill….it has taken him a while to see how fucking vicious this State really is….and he not going to lose just because Clemson controlls certain portions of the Columbia PD.
He danced for Marcus and he got cuffed for JC…..he swallowed a little for Steven….and it just makes the Clemson folks madder because normally this shit would have gotten to USC…..not this time……three in a row….here you go.