Dickson avoids taser, makes Bobby proud

Police arrest two during robbery
By Jennifer Jefferson
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

The Leon County Sheriff's Office arrested a murder suspect and a former Florida State University football player Tuesday at a robbery in progress on the 900 block of Burnt Leaf Lane in the Whispering Pines West. A third suspect is at large, according to a police report.

Deputies found one suspect, Winfred Lee, in the victim's truck, according to the report. The other suspect, Clifton Dickson, was found by helicopter in a wooded area behind the residence. The third suspect got away.

Dickson, 20, and Lee, 35, admitted to the burglary and attempted theft.

Lee was charged with burglary of a dwelling and conveyance, grand theft and false name to law enforcement official. Lee also has an outstanding warrant for premeditated murder in Miami.

Dickson was charged with burglary of a dwelling and conveyance, grand theft and possession of marijuana.

Originally published February 1, 2006

NCAA to take look at 'Noles

Gov. Jeb Bush helped FSU persuade a high school player to sign with the school.

Emily Badger | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted February 4, 2006

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State may be facing a secondary NCAA violation -- one that would warrant essentially a slap on the wrist from the governing body -- after Gov. Jeb Bush delivered a favor to university President T.K. Wetherell.

Bush admitted this week to sending a message to New Jersey high school football player Myron Rolle, the top-rated recruit in the country according to some services, encouraging him to come to the Sunshine State. And, more specifically, Florida State.

And now -- with Rolle already on campus -- the university is preparing to send an explanation to the NCAA.

"The NCAA is aware of the situation and has been in contact with Florida State University," the NCAA said in a statement. "We are waiting for the university to submit information, and we will analyze it to determine if any violations occurred."

Bush went on the defensive this week -- not because he may have cost FSU a finger wag from the NCAA but because he appeared to show the school favor when FSU wasn't the only state football power recruiting Rolle.

"The mistake I made was listening to the president of FSU say that [Rolle] was being recruited by Stanford, Duke, Notre Dame, Michigan," Bush said this week. "He failed to mention that he was also being recruited by the University of Florida and the University of Miami. So I would have done the exact same thing for the Gators and for the Hurricanes, I promise you.

"Truth be known, I'm a Hurricane fan," Bush said.

FSU Linebacker Subdued With Taser By Police, Tampa Tribune, June 11, 2005:


Florida State senior linebacker A.J. Nicholson was subdued with a Taser and arrested around 2 a.m. Friday after hiding from police in bushes at an off-campus apartment complex under construction, according to Tallahassee Police Department records.

Nicholson, 21, was taken to the Leon County Jail, charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence, and released on $150 bond. Nicholson, who led the team in tackles in 2004 and heads into his final season as an All-American candidate, is in a pretrial intervention program over his February arrest on DUI charges in Tallahassee.

According to a TPD shift report, two officers on patrol at 1:58 a.m. observed a man running into an apartment complex under construction at the 600 block of W. Virginia St. and, due to time and circumstances, felt they had “reasonable suspicion” to stop him.

The man, later identified as Nicholson, instead hid in nearby bushes, where the officers found him. When he refused to comply with officers’ orders, he was subdued with the Taser and placed under arrest.

Police then learned from off-duty officers working at a nearby nightclub that Nicholson had fled when officers at the club had attempted to eject him following an incident involving “disorderly conduct and drinking violations.”

Posted 7/6/2005 4:30 PM USA Today

Star linebacker Sims arrested on domestic battery charge
By Brent Kallestad, The Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State junior linebacker Ernie Sims was arrested on misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and resisting arrest without violence early Wednesday.
Sims, 20, was arrested by Tallahassee Police shortly after a 2 a.m. incident with his live-in girlfriend, Brooke McGriff, who refused to press charges.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Sims was released from jail after an 8 a.m. court appearance before Leon County Judge Donald S. Mondesitt. Both charges are first degree misdemeanors.

"Our athletic department discipline policy for a misdemeanor goes into effect with Ernie and he will be subject to that until I have all the facts," coach Bobby Bowden said in a statement released by the school.

Bowden, in most cases, has discretion on misdemeanor cases where no jail time is involved under Florida State's Code of Conduct.

Witnesses told police that at one point Sims "slammed her on the ground" and straddled the 5-foot-2, 118-pound McGriff as she lay on the concrete in front of a residence hall near the Florida State campus.

As she tried to stand, the player repeatedly shoved her back onto the ground. Sims remained aggressive when officers arrived, the police report said.

Monday, July 19, 2004 at 10:52 AM EST
Seminoles lineman charged with battery on officer

The Associated Press


TALLAHASSEE -- A Florida State football player was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer after a scuffle outside a nightclub, police said.

Bobby Meeks, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive lineman, kicked and tried to punch Tallahassee police officers and they had to use pepper spray and a stun gun to subdue him Saturday, police said.

Meeks, 23, was also charged with resisting arrest with violence and was released on $7,500 bail. His uncle, Albert Meeks Jr., was also charged with battery in the fight with officers.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) - Florida State's leading tackler was suspended by the team and questioned by police Thursday after a 19-year-old woman accused him of sexually assaulting her.

A decision regarding whether to charge senior linebacker A.J. Nicholson will be made following the completion of an investigation expected to extend into next week, police said.

A.J. Nicholson, who has started every game the past two seasons and led the Seminoles this year with 100 tackles, has been arrested twice this year. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)

Nicholson was released by detectives and sent home by the Seminoles, who arrived Wednesday to play Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2. Coach Bobby Bowden said Nicholson was suspended for violating a team rule.

The woman called police Thursday at 3 a.m. -- two hours after the team's curfew -- and said she had been assaulted by a Florida State player, later identified as Nicholson, police detective Carlos Negron said. The alleged assault occurred at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa, where the Seminoles are staying.

Nicholson went to the police station voluntarily and was questioned for two hours, Negron said. The woman also was interviewed by detectives and taken to a rape treatment center.

Negron declined to give further details because the case remains open.

Nicholson has started every game the past two seasons and led the Seminoles this year with 100 tackles.

He has also been arrested twice this year. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUI, and a charge of resisting arrest filed in June following a bar incident was later dropped.

12/02
Florida State junior defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was charged Wednesday with felony grand theft for his role in receiving unauthorized discounts on merchandise purchased at a mall last month. Dockett turned himself in at the Leon County jail and was released on $1,000 bail. The investigator's report said Dockett and two store clerks conspired on a 90 percent discount, and he paid them money for their assistance. University spokesman Rob Wilson said Dockett would not be able to participate in any athletic department activities until the case is resolved.

Florida State and legal troubles
Janikowski played three seasons for the Seminoles, where he amassed a career scoring total of 324 points (3rd all-time for the school). While he excelled on the field, it was at Florida State that Janikowski's lifestyle started causing problems.

In August 1998, he got into a fight outside of a Tallahassee bar. Janikowski was charged with failure to leave the premises and pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor offense. Despite the incident, he was not punished by head coach Bobby Bowden. Janikowski had a breakout season in 1998, and the Seminoles were in contention for a national championship. The night after a season-ending win over rival Florida, Janikowski got into another fight at a local bar. This time he was charged with battery.

Janikowski stayed out of trouble for most of the 1999 season, which again found FSU in contention for a national title. Prior to the team's appearance in the national championship game (the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana), Janikowski declared his intentions to declare himself eligible for the 2000 NFL draft. On New Year's Eve he was caught breaking the team's curfew, but again was not disciplined by head coach Bowden.

Although Janikowski's skill as a kicker was unquestioned by NFL scouts, his off-the-field behavior was a great cause of concern. In January 2000, Janikowski was partying with a group of friends when his roommate was arrested at a nightclub. Janikowski approached the arresting officer and asked how much it would take to let his friend go. He reportedly dropped three $100 bills on the officer's lap. He was arrested for attempting to bribe an officer, a charge that carried a $5,000 fine, up to five years in prison, and possible deportation.[1].

Oakland Raiders and more legal troubles
Despite the threat of criminal charges and deportation, Janikowski was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft - only the fifth time a kicker had been taken in the first round in NFL history.

Janikowski was acquitted of his bribery charge in June 2000. He had testified on his own behalf, stating that he was simply trying to pay his friend's fine and not bribe the arresting officer. Just eight days after his acquittal, Janikowski and two friends were arrested in Tallahassee on suspicion of felony possession of the designer drug GHB, also known as the date rape drug.

Janikowski, who earned a reputation for partying at Florida State, was charged with DUI on October 2, 2002 and given three years' probation after pleading no contest. Less than a year later, he was arrested after a fight at a Walnut Creek, California restaurant.

Florida State receiver Gardner arrested

By Brent Kallestad
Associated Press Writer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State receiver Talman Gardner was charged Monday with marijuana possession and having a concealed and loaded handgun.

The gun charge is a felony and the drug charge is a misdemeanor. The 23-year-old player was released but officials did not immediately say if he had to post bond.

Gardner has been projected as possibly a second- or third-round draft choice this month. Florida State officials, including coach Bobby Bowden, did not immediately return calls.

One of the fastest players at Florida State, Gardner caught 89 passes for 1,589 yards and 19 touchdowns during his career.

The arrest is the latest embarrassment for the university, whose football players have faced assorted legal and disciplinary problems this year.

Gardner and another former Seminole player, Malcolm Tatum, were stopped early Monday by Capitol Police. The officers had been following the players, who were driving slowly through an area of state office buildings.

Both players are no longer in school. Neither player has a listed phone number, and neither could be immediately reached.

Tatum was arrested on a warrant for civil contempt, which he resolved before being released. The 24-year-old Tatum played little last season in his senior year.

Earlier this season, former quarterback Adrian McPherson was charged with gambling and writing bad checks and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was charged with receiving improper discounts on merchandise. Also, quarterback Chris Rix was suspended for the Sugar Bowl after he overslept and missed a final exam.

Originally published Tuesday, April 8, 2003