Before BB gun incident in 2012, Jameis Winston was stopped by police at gunpoint
Jameis Winston had a run-in with police before he was questioned about a BB gun clash at his apartment complex in 2012.
According to a police report obtained by USA Today, the Florida State QB and 2013 Heisman Trophy winner was stopped by campus police with their guns drawn because he was carrying a pellet gun on a bike trail across the street from campus.
Winston and teammate Chris Casher were briefly detained by FSU police on Nov. 25, 2012, after an unidentified person reported two men carrying a "long barreled handgun" on campus, according to a police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
Later that week, Winston and Casher were investigated for $4,200 in damage at their apartment complex caused by a BB gun fight just hours after they were stopped on campus.
Per officer Anthony Gioannetti in the police report, he "believed the suspects may have had a firearm so for my safety and the safety of the other individuals in the area, I drew my firearm from its holster and pointed it at the suspects with my finger outside the trigger guard. I stated several times in a loud voice for them to stop and to get on the ground. They dropped a long barreled pistol which I did not initially see. They eventually got on the ground. Officer Williams handcuffed both suspects behind their back. After they were handcuffed, I re-holstered my firearm."
Both players told police they were shooting at squirrels and said they told people on the trail it was a pellet gun. According to the police report, the gun and pellets were confiscated. Neither player was charged.
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Winston's questioning for a BB gun incident at the apartment complex became public when allegations of sexual assault against Winston in December 2012 surfaced in November 2013. Winston was ultimately not charged with sexual assault and both Casher and Darby said they witnessed Winston having sex with the accuser, which they believed to be consensual. Casher and Ronald Darby also faced a Florida State disciplinary hearing for their roles in witnessing the encounter.
The Associated Press contacted both about the USA Today report.
Contacted after the report, Winston said, "Sorry sir, I'm not talking about that."
When contacted by The Associated Press to comment, Casher originally hung up. But he called back and wanted to know why this was being reported now. He then used obscenities as he criticized USA Today for running the report.
Both Casher and Winston were redshirt freshman in 2012 when the BB gun battle occurred. According to USA Today, a senior associate athletics director at FSU arranged for players to pay for the cost of the damage at the apartment complex.
Winston was issued a citation for shoplifting crabs and crawfish at a Tallahassee, Fla., Publix in April. He was suspended from the baseball team, but was reinstated after completing the terms of his service for the citation.
At ACC media days on July 20, Winston said he needed to be more accountable to his team.
For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
