Ahmad Bradshaw was an all-state running back in high school, but the incoming Virginia football recruit was unable to outrun a pair of Charlottesville police officers last weekend.
Bradshaw was arrested at 1:50 a.m. Saturday night and charged with underage alcohol possession and obstruction of justice, according to Charlottesville police Sgt. M.G. Davis.
Police approached Bradshaw in front of Coup de Villes on Elliewood Ave. and asked him what type of drink he was holding. The 18 year old initially cooperated, telling the officers it was a Long Island Iced Tea. When officers asked Bradshaw for identification, however, he gave them incorrect information. Davis said that Bradshaw was then informed that he was not free to leave yet and he would be patted down for the officers' protection. It was at that point that Bradshaw fled the scene.
Police chased him for about a quarter-mile before stopping him near the Rotunda. Davis said there was a struggle between the parties when the officers were trying to handcuff Bradshaw, leading the officers to use pepper spray. He was then taken to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail and was released later Saturday on a $1,000 bond.
The obstruction of justice charge is a Class I misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. The underage alcohol possession charge carries only a small fine.
"If he would have went with the program, he would've gotten a summons and that would've been it," Davis said. "He would've been able to walk away."
Bradshaw's status with the Virginia football team is uncertain. Reports early this week suggest that the Virginia coaching staff had learned about at least one another run-in with the law Bradshaw had as a juvenile and called his high school coach to find out more information.
Athletic director Craig Littlepage would neither confirm nor deny the reports.
"Coach Groh and I will be sitting down and discussing the matter as the week progresses," Littlepage said. "A decision will be made in the best interest of the University, the team and the individual."
Bradshaw earned all-state honors in football at Graham High School in Bluefield, Va. He was rated the No. 25 running back in the country according to the recruiting magazine SuperPrep. Rivals.com rated him the seventh-best player in the state of Virginia. He rushed for 2,557 yards as a senior and scored 31 touchdowns on the ground.
The 5'10" 180-pound Bradshaw was also rated the No. 28 cornerback in the country by Rivals.com, and his position on the Virginia football roster is listed as cornerback.
Bradshaw is the latest member of the Virginia football program to run into problems with the law. Quarterback Marques Hagans and cornerback Brandon Lee were arrested on disorderly conduct charges in April after their former teammate, cornerback Jamaine Winborne, was shot in the leg. Hagans and Lee were both found not guilty, as was Kenneth Tynes, who was arrested on vandalism charges for his actions the night of Winborne's shooting. Starting wideout Ottawa Anderson was arrested on assault charges two weeks ago, but the Cavaliers were not expecting Anderson to return to the team this season anyway.
Read More
Katie Grimes posts historic debut as women’s swimming and diving annihilates Virginia Tech
By Xander Tilock | 10 hours agoGrimes broke out as a new superstar for Coach Todd DeSorbo's squad.
Women’s basketball displays stingy defense, but falls short versus No. 14 Duke
By Xander Tilock | 16 hours agoThe Cavaliers nearly conquered a ranked rival but could not generate consistent offense.
You cannot say money is the problem for Virginia football
By Peter Kriebel | 22 hours agoMoney, after all, is just one aspect of a winning program.
