Broncos tackle Marcus Thomas arrested on Florida drug charge

3/3/2008 4:16 PM

ORANGE PARK, Fla. (AP) - Denver Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas was arrested after police said they found cocaine and a handgun in a pickup truck during a traffic stop.

He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and released from jail Sunday after posting a $2,500 bond.

Thomas slipped to the fourth round of last year's draft because of off-field problems. He had been considered a potential first-round pick.

Thomas and the driver were arrested early Saturday after police received a call from the Florida Highway Patrol asking them to look for a pickup with a driver who might be impaired.

The police report said both men denied any knowledge of the cocaine. Police also said a semiautomatic pistol was seen inside the glove compartment.

Thomas' lawyer, Charles Truncale, said police found a small bag of what appeared to be a ``trace amount'' of cocaine and his client ``did not possess it.''

``Nor did he have any knowledge of it, until the stop of the vehicle,'' Truncale said. ``That's what happened. He is not guilty of the charge for which he has been arrested.''

``The owner/operator of the vehicle has since admitted the cocaine was his and no cocaine was ever found on Marcus Thomas,'' the Broncos said in a statement, ``Within hours of his release, Marcus had a test which confirmed that there was no cocaine in his system.''

The team would not comment on the source of its information, club spokesman Patrick Smyth said.

Police Chief James Boivin said both men still face a possible felony charge because at the time of the arrest neither said he owned the cocaine. A call to the state attorney's office in Green Cove Springs was not immediately returned.

Thomas was suspended most of his final college season at Florida in 2006. He had tested positive for drugs and violated curfew and his agreement to attend drug rehabilitation class.

He started five games last season and had 20 tackles in 16 games.