The Broncos are standing by defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, who was riding in a pickup early Saturday in which cocaine was found. The Broncos and Thomas’ agent, Richard Burnoski, said Monday the driver of the car, Bryce Carter, admitted the cocaine was his. That confession was not part of the police report.
Carter and Thomas, 22, denied ownership of the cocaine, the officers said. If charges are pursued, Thomas may subject himself to a polygraph test. Thomas was not available for comment Monday, but he has talked with Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
“The Denver Broncos are aware that Marcus Thomas is under investigation for possession of cocaine and was a passenger where cocaine was found,” the Broncos said in a prepared statement. “The owner-operator of the vehicle has since admitted the cocaine was his, and no cocaine was ever found on Marcus Thomas. Within hours of his release, Marcus had a test which confirmed that there was no cocaine in his system.”
Cocaine, a “green leafy substance” and a gun were allegedly seized from the vehicle, according to police reports released by the Orange Park (Fla.) Police Department.
At the time of the arrest, Thomas was riding in an F-150 truck driven by Carter, 24, of Jacksonville, Fla., according to the Orange Park Police Department. Thomas’ attorney, Charles Truncale, said the gun doesn’t belong to Thomas, who Burnoski admitted was drinking but was not driving.
“It is my understanding that the gun was lawfully registered to Bryce Carter,” Truncale said.
Thomas and Carter were high school teammates and they were celebrating a going- away party for Thomas, who was scheduled to return to Denver during the weekend.
Thomas, the Broncos’ fourth-round draft choice last year, was kicked off the University of Florida’s national championship team in 2006 because he tested positive for marijuana multiple times.
Selected at No. 121 overall, Thomas became a starter last season. When the Broncos drafted him, Shanahan said the team would have a zero-tolerance policy with Thomas should he be convicted of drug use. Monday, Burnoski said the team was supportive and expects the team to withhold judgment until the case is resolved.
The Florida State Attorney’s Office said Monday the Thomas case had just been received in its in-take division and the officers involved in the arrest have 72 hours to file a report with prosecutors. Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Hults then will decide whether charges are appropriate. The state has 30 days to file charges. Thomas’ court date is set for March 18.
Police stopped the truck at approximately 2:27 a.m. Saturday in Orange Park, which is south of Jacksonville.
Officers Joel Grant and Edward Kaczkowski said when Carter was asked to show his license and registration, he reached into the glove box. In there the officers spotted a black and silver semi-automatic pistol, according to the report.
At that point, the officers said they told everyone in the car to put their hands up, but Carter allegedly continued to reach inside the glove box. Carter was instructed several times to take his hand out of the glove box and away from the gun. Carter and Thomas were then ordered out of the truck, placed in custody and read their Miranda rights.
Inside the car, the officers said they found a small plastic bag containing a white powder in the passenger floor board, a green leafy substance in the center console cup-holder and a black pistol magazine with bullets under the console lid.
Officers said the white powder field-tested for cocaine. The gun in the glove box was identified as a Bersa Thunder .380, which is a small handgun.
Carter and Thomas were arrested and booked into the Clay County Jail for possession of a controlled substance. Nita Goodson, clerk of the Clay County court, said Monday that Thomas was released Sunday morning on $2,502 bail.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
Bill Williamson: 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com
New middle linebacker
The Broncos received help at linebacker and on special teams Monday with the signing of Seattle linebacker Niko Koutouvides to a three-year deal. Koutouvides spent four seasons in Seattle.
2007 stats: 23 tackles, 19 solo, four assists in 15 games
College: Purdue (drafted in the fourth round, 118th overall, by Seattle in 2004)
Size: 6-feet-2, 238 pounds
Age: 26
Best season as pro: In his rookie year in 2004, Koutouvides had 62 tackles and an interception in 16 games and two starts (the only starts of his career).
C.J. Moore, The Denver Post
