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Joiner Arrested On Felony Burglary Charge

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

GAINESVILLE - University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday night that he would keep senior strong safety and team captain Tony Joiner away from team activities until he sorts out the facts of Joiner's arrest early Tuesday morning on a felony burglary charge.

Gainesville police arrested Joiner at about 5 a.m. Tuesday and accused him of breaking into a towing company impound lot to retrieve his girlfriend's car. Tuesday afternoon, the owner of the lot called the incident 'a miscommunication' and said Joiner should not have been arrested, but a GPD spokesman contended that tow lot employees never mentioned any miscommunication to police.

Joiner, 21, was released on his own recognizance early Tuesday afternoon. Meyer said after practice that he was still gathering information about the incident and hoped to learn more Tuesday night. Joiner is one of two returning defensive starters from last season's national title team. The No. 9 Gators face top-ranked LSU on Saturday.

'Until I find out everything,' Meyer said, 'Joiner won't do anything.'

According to a GPD report, Joiner pushed open a gate at a lot used by Watson's Towing at about 4:30 a.m. He then drove the car out of the lot without paying the $76 tow fee. According to the report, Watson's Towing employee Travis Watkins confronted Joiner as Joiner tried to close the gate.

In a telephone interview with The Tampa Tribune, the owner of the lot, Stan Forron, said he inadvertently left the gate open before he left work early Tuesday morning. Forron said he was not present during the incident. In a separate interview, Forron told The Miami Herald that he was present but that his employees 'didn't know I was there.'

Gainesville police spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg said the only people officer Robert Concannon encountered were Joiner, Florida senior safety Kyle Jackson - who did not enter the impound lot - Watkins and Elite Towing employee Raymond Fleming. Joiner's cell phone was not accepting voicemail messages Tuesday, and he did not respond to a text message. Jackson declined comment Tuesday. Neither Watkins nor Fleming could be reached.

Forron said Joiner called in advance Tuesday. When Joiner arrived, Forron said, the lot attendant was not at his station. After waiting for a while, Joiner went through the open gate and retrieved the car.

'I don't ever remember anybody being arrested for that,' Forron said.

Kameg said if Forron or either of his employees considered the incident a misunderstanding, they should have informed Concannon that they wished to withdraw the complaint.

'His employees called us to respond to a burglary,' Kameg said. 'We responded.'

After he was read his Miranda rights, according to the report, Joiner said he'd intended to pay the bill but got impatient. After that, according to the report, Joiner 'respectfully decided not to answer any more questions.'

Forron said the tow charge was paid Tuesday. Forron said he would like a say as to whether the State Attorney's Office pursues the charge against Joiner.

'I hope I do, because the charge shouldn't be,' Forron said. 'I've already been paid. He didn't damage any of my property.'

Joiner's roommate, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, said Joiner did not intentionally break the law. Because of that, Tebow said he thought Joiner should be allowed to play Saturday at LSU.

'In his heart he wasn't trying to do anything wrong, so I think he should play, yeah,' Tebow said.

Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.

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