A UF linebacker was arrested for the second time in five weeks early Sunday morning after police say he taunted a police dog.
According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office report, Deputy William Arnold was investigating a suspicious vehicle at Scottish Inns Motel, 4341 SW 13th St. at about 4 a.m. when a group of men walked along the road past the parked patrol car.
UF sophomore Antonio Morrison, 19, was one of them.
As the patrol car’s emergency lights flashed, Morrison walked up to the open window and made barking noises at K-9 Bear, according to the report.
Bear responded by barking, which diverted the dog’s attention away from Arnold and the investigation, according to the report.
When Arnold asked Morrison to stand in front of the patrol car and tried to handcuff him, Morrison struggled. Two other officers arrived and helped complete the arrest, according to the report.
Morrison was taken to the Alachua County Jail and booked on charges of harassing a police dog and resisting arrest.
According to the report, Morrison’s behavior was in violation of Florida Statute 843.19.4, which states: “Any person who intentionally or knowingly maliciously harasses, teases, interferes with, or attempts to interfere with a police dog, fire dog, SAR dog, or police horse while the animal is in the performance of its duties commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.”
Sunday’s incident was the second time Morrison has been arrested this summer. He was arrested June 16 for punching a bouncer at Kava Lounge who refused to waive cover charge, according to Alligator archives.
Morrison was expected to start at linebacker for Florida this upcoming season.
He received a deferred prosecution for his first arrest.
Muschamp issued a statement Sunday afternoon via Twitter announcing that Morrison will be suspended from the team and blocked from playing at least two games at the beginning of the upcoming season.
“I am extremely disappointed in Antonio Morrison’s decision-making,” Muschamp wrote.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org. Contact Kelcee Griffis at kgriffis@alligator.org.
