Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Logo

Alabama's Johns arrested for selling cocaine | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Special Sections
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Local News
    • Photos
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Job Spotlight
    • Georgia
    • Business
    • Nation/World
    • Lottery
    • Sports
    • Alabama
    • Auburn
    • Braves
    • Columbus State University
    • Cottonmouths
    • Falcons
    • Hawks
    • High Schools
    • UGA
    • Blogs & Columns
    • War Eagle Extra
    • Bulldogs Blog
    • Valley Preps
    • Guerry Clegg
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • ToDo
    • Living
    • Dining
    • Celebrations
    • Outdoors
    • Faith
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Blogs & Columns
    • War Eagle Extra
    • Bulldogs Blog
    • Guerry Clegg
    • Tim Chitwood
    • Richard Hyatt
    • Ledger Inquirer
    • Valley Preps
    • Chuck Williams
    • Dimon Kendrick-Holmes
    • Alva James-Johnson
    • Natalia Naman Temesgen
    • Chris Johnson
    • Opinion
    • Forum
    • Letters
    • Dusty Nix
    • Sound Off
  • Obituaries
  • Readers' Choice

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

University of Alabama

Alabama's Johns arrested for selling cocaine

The Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 24, 2008 02:13 PM

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama linebacker Jimmy Johns was arrested on felony drug charges Tuesday and kicked off the team, the latest in a string of off-the-field problems for coach Nick Saban’s squad.

Johns, who moved to defense for his senior year after playing running back and receiver in 2007, was ‘‘pretty wide open’’ selling cocaine to students on and around the University of Alabama campus but tried to hide what he was doing from teammates, police said.

‘‘He didn’t want them to know he was involved in it,’’ said Capt. Jeff Snyder of the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force.

Records did not indicate whether Johns had hired a lawyer. He was held at the metro jail with bond set at $120,000.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Ledger-Enquirer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Saban dismissed Johns from the team almost immediately.

‘‘This type of behavior obviously will not be tolerated and he is no longer a part of our program,’’ he said in a brief statement.

Alabama players have been involved in a series of arrests and off-the-field suspensions, with Saban acknowledging the need for better discipline and judgment earlier this year after two players were arrested within days of each other.

‘‘I’ve said enough is enough and we’re trying to fix it,’’ Saban said in February.

About two months later, Snyder said, police began getting tips that Johns was involved in drug sales. Alabama was conducting spring football practice around the same time.

Undercover officers purchased cocaine from Johns five times in the last 1 weeks, Snyder said, and they arrested him at a gas station near his off-campus apartment, where he lived alone.

Authorities who searched the apartment found about 10 grams of cocaine and ecstasy pills. Johns was charged with distributing cocaine and possessing the pills, Snyder said.

Snyder said Johns didn’t use his status as a football player to solicit business, but being a member of the Crimson Tide didn’t hurt, either.

‘‘He was popular. A lot of people knew him,’’ he said.

Snyder said officers purchased drugs twice from Johns at the player’s apartment, once near campus and twice at the university. He declined comment on whether officers obtained drugs in the Alabama football complex. But he said there was no indication other players were involved.

The 6-foot-2, 233-pound Johns was No. 2 on the team in rushing in both of his first two years, but he saw reduced playing time last season after missing part of spring practice for academic reasons.

Saban moved Johns to linebacker before last season’s bowl game, and he was expected to contribute to a defense already short on experience.

The Tide is lacking depth at linebacker partly because of disciplinary action against Prince Hall. Saban has said Hall will serve some sort of suspension in the upcoming season. The reasons for Hall’s suspension were not disclosed.

  Comments  

Videos

5 things to know for the college football national championship between Georgia and Alabama

Minkah Fitzpatrick on leading Alabama's defense

View More Video

Trending Stories

Live-in girlfriend charged with murder in Tip Top Drive shooting, police say

February 20, 2019 04:56 PM

More than $11,000 in ecstasy, meth and cash seized on Macon Road, police say

February 20, 2019 11:03 AM

Efforts under way to add 25-mile bicycle trail to Standing Boy Creek wildlife area

February 20, 2019 06:07 PM

Columbus police, coroner on scene of fatal shooting

February 20, 2019 05:05 PM

Interview with Police Maj. J.D. Hawk on the scene of Tip Top Drive shooting

February 20, 2019 08:55 PM

Read Next

Quarterback battle the primary topic of discussion for Alabama at SEC Media Days

University of Alabama

Quarterback battle the primary topic of discussion for Alabama at SEC Media Days

By Jordan D. Hill

    ORDER REPRINT →

July 18, 2018 05:08 PM

The topic of Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts versus Tua Tagovailoa has been present throughout the offseason, and SEC Media Days on Wednesday was the chance for media to ask Alabama team members about it.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Ledger-Enquirer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Alabama coach Nick Saban wants to see this change to the Crimson Tide’s schedule

University of Alabama

Alabama coach Nick Saban wants to see this change to the Crimson Tide’s schedule

July 18, 2018 03:29 PM
‘It wouldn’t have been close’: Alabama football player wanted to face UCF for national title

University of Alabama

‘It wouldn’t have been close’: Alabama football player wanted to face UCF for national title

April 17, 2018 12:49 PM
Justyn Ross’ mother had a visitor at work. It was Nick Saban

University of Alabama

Justyn Ross’ mother had a visitor at work. It was Nick Saban

January 26, 2018 08:14 PM
Alabama head coach Nick Saban makes his rounds through Chattahoochee Valley

University of Alabama

Alabama head coach Nick Saban makes his rounds through Chattahoochee Valley

January 25, 2018 07:27 PM
‘Deal Was If We Won ... The Locs Had To Come Off.’ Alabama quarterback has new look

University of Alabama

‘Deal Was If We Won ... The Locs Had To Come Off.’ Alabama quarterback has new look

January 22, 2018 07:31 AM
Mekhi Brown breaks silence on his departure from Alabama

University of Alabama

Mekhi Brown breaks silence on his departure from Alabama

January 17, 2018 04:32 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Digital Solutions
  • Niche Solutions
  • Print Solutions
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story