Columbus, Ohio – When police ran into Maurice Clarett this time, officers said he was driving erratically and carrying an arsenal that included three semi-automatic handguns and an AK-47-type assault rifle in the front seat – all loaded.
A highway chase ensued, then ended in the early hours Wednesday when police spiked the former Ohio State star running back’s tires.
Even then, officers said they could not easily subdue him because the bulletproof vest he was wearing thwarted their stun guns.
It took several police and pepper spray to get the 6-foot, 245-pounder into handcuffs. The struggle continued as he kicked at the doors of the transport vehicle that took him away.
But Clarett’s latest bizarre run-in with the law took perhaps its most troubling turn hours later, when prosecutors asked a judge to keep him in jail and revoke his bond on an earlier robbery charge.
One reason: He was driving a few blocks from the home of a woman who was set to testify against him next week, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said.
The judge raised the bond to $1.1 million. Clarett’s attorney, Nick Mango, said it was “probably unlikely” Clarett would be able to post it, meaning he would stay in jail for the duration of his trial, which is scheduled to start Monday.
Clarett was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a felony, and given a traffic citation, and police said more charges are possible. An arraignment was scheduled for this morning.
Sgt. Michael Woods said Clarett weaved in and out of lanes, did a U-turn on a freeway and refused to leave the SUV after a spike stick flattened its tires.
Clarett, 22, had a semi- automatic handgun under his legs on the driver’s seat, police said, and an assault rifle on the passenger seat. Two other semiautomatic handguns were in the vehicle, including one in a holster in a backpack.
“We don’t have any idea why he had them or what, if anything, he was going to do with them,” Woods said. “But if you’ve got four guns in your car, you’re up to no good.”
Officers said they also found a partially full bottle of vodka after the arrest, but no breath test was given because there was no indication he was intoxicated, Woods said. On the console, a police photo shows, was a compact disc of children’s songs recorded by prison inmates.
Clarett’s promising football career was derailed when he was suspended for the 2003 season after being charged with falsifying a police report.
He dropped out of school, then sued and lost in an attempt to be included in the 2004 NFL draft, a challenge that went to the Supreme Court. He was a surprise third- round pick by the Broncos in the 2005 draft, but was cut during the preseason.
