Seminoles star arrested on drug, weapons charges

4/22/2008 5:05 PM

By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -Florida State star Preston Parker was arrested late Monday and charged with carrying a concealed .45-caliber pistol and a small amount of marijuana.

The 21-year-old receiver arrested shortly before midnight Monday for carrying a loaded semiautomatic .45-caliber pistol wedged into the dash of the car next to a bag of marijuana. Police also found a container stuffed with marijuana, according to the arrest report.

Parker told police he didn't know anything about the marijuana. However, he admitted the gun was his, purchased for him by a friend before his birthday earlier this year.

Parker was released Tuesday from the Palm Beach County Jail, Palm Beach Gardens Police spokeswoman Ellen Lovejoy said. The gun charge is a felony.

It was unclear if Parker had a lawyer. Florida State sports publicist Elliott Finebloom said Parker did not return text messages left for him Tuesday. There were no phone listings for a Preston Parker in Delray Beach.

Florida State's disciplinary policy calls for suspension of any athlete facing criminal charges and prohibits any student-athlete charged with a felony, absent extraordinary circumstances, from competing until the charge is resolved.

``Once we've thoroughly reviewed the details of the incident, we will handle the situation according to that policy,'' said Randy Spetman, who was named athletic director earlier this year.

The Seminoles already have six starters sitting out suspensions from a classroom cheating scandal last year.

Florida State kicked Randy Moss out of school in the mid-1990's for being caught smoking marijuana in a West Virginia jail.

Parker was also apprehended by Tallahassee police in 2006 for swiping a $10 DVDat a Best Buy store.

Parker, who is from Delray Beach, was named Florida State's Most Valuable Player last season after leading the team with 1,513 all-purpose yards and 62 receptions.