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Former Jefferson QB Stephen Garcia Arrested
Posted By Anwar Richardson at Feb 17, 2007 at 02:38 PM
Updated Feb 17, 2007 at 02:41 PM

By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON and BRETT McMURPHY
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – Former Jefferson quarterback Stephen Garcia, who enrolled at the University of South Carolina last month, was arrested Saturday at 12:40 a.m. in Columbia, S.C. and charged with “failure to stop on police command” and “drunkenness,” according to a Columbia Police Department incident report obtained by The Tampa Tribune.

The report indicates a witness alerted police that Garcia was involved in an altercation behind the Knock Knock Club on Harden Street in the Five Points area of Columbia where Garcia had attended a private party.

As an officer, dressed in full police uniform, approached Garcia, he began to “quickly walk away.” The officer asked Garcia to stop and Garcia “ran north behind the building and attempted to conceal himself in the alley,” according to the report.

Garcia then “turned toward the officer in a threatening manner. The officer immediately engaged his baton. [Garcia] at that time was trying to zip up his pants and fix his belt. [Garcia] had a very strong odor of alcohol about his breath and person, was unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech,” the report indicated.

Garcia admitted to the officer he was aware he ran from the officer requiring him to stop. The officer did not use the baton to complete the arrest.

Garcia, who turned 19 Thursday, was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and has a bond hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday.

Gary Garcia, Stephen’s father, and Jefferson football coach Mike Fenton declined comment to the Tribune Saturday about the incident.

Garcia graduated in December from Jefferson as Hillsborough County’s all-time leader in passing yardage and touchdown passes. He enrolled at South Carolina in January to be able to participate in spring practice and increase his chances to play this fall for the Gamecocks. Garcia is considered one of USC coach Steve Spurrier’s highest-rated recruits.

Garcia finished his career with 8,081 yards passing (506 of 821) with 83 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,345 yards on 263 careers with 17 TDs. He ranks third in the state for career passing yards and sixth in touchdown passes.

As a three-year starter at Jefferson, the Dragons were 28-11 and advanced to the Class 3A state championship game Garcia’s sophomore year. He was a three-time first-team Tribune’s All-Hillsborough County selection and recently received The Coca-Cola Golden Helmet Award (Class 4A-3A division, honoring Hillsborough’s top football player.

Reporter Anwar Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com

Send Us Your Comments

Posted by Jon McKee, Sarasota on 02/18 at 10:40 PM

What do you expect when everyone surrounding him tells him how great he is. Get real people, throwing a football isn’t a gift from God, if anything it’s a burden and this young man and his family better come to the realization that his character and how he conducts himself is what we really value.

Posted by tyler manisclaco, tampa,florida on 02/18 at 10:27 PM

he is one of my good friends. he is a very good football player and a focused kid. he is out on his own for the first time and is probley scared. i know that he has a great passion for football and that he will learn from this situtation and move on to continute playing football.

Posted by Shannon Kelly, Easley, South Carolina on 02/18 at 09:46 PM

I don’t know this young man personally, but have heard he is one of the top QB’s in the country coming out of high school. I know that we all have made mistakes in our lives and I hope that he will learn from this mistake. I believe he can have a very promising career if he keeps his focus in the right direction. Coach Spurrier should make a mandatory rule for his players that Five Points is off limits period. I don’t care how old they are. That place is bad news.

Posted by Lane McLaughlin, Tampa on 02/18 at 09:17 PM

We have to remember he is still an 18 year old kid away from home for the first time. It isn’t easy when he is supposed to be the future of South Carolina football .He did not use good judgement and will be penalized for it. I got in trouble for drinking my freshman year as do alot of kids away from home for the first time.I know Stephen very well and he is a good person with good morals and values. Getting in trouble can happen but lets see what he does from here before we judge him. People have a way of building someone up just to take pleasure in watching them fall. Stephen keep your head up and stay in your dorm at night, Everybody wants a piece of you. Fame and notoriety can also be a curse if not handled appropriately.

Posted by fred jackson, tampa, fl on 02/17 at 09:02 PM

Its sad to see this because he’s such a good player and he had such a good image. But now he has to work to overcome this and prove that he can stay focused in a big time college atmosphere. But I think he will be fine.

Posted by Peter Moris, Tampa on 02/17 at 06:56 PM

He’s been bragging for weeks now that he cuts classes and is partying all the time. It was only a matter of time.

Posted by Brendan McLaughlin, Largo on 02/17 at 05:51 PM

Just add another promising young athlete from Tampa to the list. I graduated from East Bay in Gibsonton in 2004. I can’t tell you how many people I know had so much potential, only to throw it away by getting into trouble. It’s just sad. I consider myself a statistic too. I had a future in baseball. Drugs are bad.....mmmmmkay

Posted by chris smith, valrico, fl on 02/17 at 03:07 PM

it’s ok—i’m sure the bengals would love to have him.