LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas defensive end Marcus Harrison was
suspended indefinitely after being arrested late Friday night on a
felony drug charge and several misdemeanors.
A Fayetteville police report says an officer stopped Harrison,
23, just after 11 p.m. Friday night near his apartment. The officer
reported a strong smell of marijuana coming from Harrison's car
when he rolled his window down.
The officer asked Harrison to step out of the car. The police
report says Harrison consented to a search and told the officer he
had "just a pill" in a pocket of his cargo shorts. The officer
reported finding a small plastic bag containing one blue Ecstasy
pill.
The officer reported finding one partially smoked marijuana
cigar under the front seat of the car and another unsmoked cigar.
The police report shows both cigars tested positive for marijuana.
The Washington County jail said Harrison was booked just after 3
a.m. The jail listed Harrison as being held on charges of felony
possession of a controlled substance, speeding, driving with a
restricted driver's license and not wearing a seat belt. The jail
also showed Harrison charged with failure to appear to another
court date.
A deputy at the jail said Harrison was freed Saturday afternoon
on $5,290 bond.
Coach Houston Nutt said Saturday that Harrison had violated team
rules and would not play in the season opener for the Razorbacks (No. 20 ESPN/USA Today; No. 21 AP) against Troy on Sept. 1. Nutt said Harrison could face further
disciplinary measures.
"I am deeply disappointed that any student athlete would put
himself and his team in the position of losing a senior starter due
to off-the-field conduct," Nutt said. "We will await the legal
process and review his status in the coming weeks."
Harrison, a senior, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in March
during a spring practice. His recovery went well, though, and he
was listed atop the depth chart at his position by the team Friday.
Senior Chris Wade was listed as Harrison's backup, but his role
could change now that Harrison is suspended.
Harrison started five games in 2006.