The Georgia Bulldogs' star tailback Washaun Ealey has been arrested on hit-and-run and license charges. Here's the long and short of it, courtesy of OnlineAthens.com:
Georgia running back Washuan Ealey, the Bulldogs’ leading rusher last season, was arrested this morning on misdemeanor charges of hit-and-run of a parked vehicle and driving on a suspended license.
Ealey was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Impala that hit a parked truck in the East Campus parking deck at 3:19 a.m. today, University of Georgia police Chief Jimmy Williamson said.
Parking service employees saw the incident and stopped Ealey and asked him to wait for police, but Ealey said he couldn’t and he left the scene, Williamson said.
A third charge was added this morning for an outstanding bench warrant.
Ealey failed to appear in court on July 12 in Athens for May 30 charges of speeding and registration violations, according to Rhonda Bolton, clerk of court for Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court.
That’s likely the reason for his suspended license.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Ealey suspended for two games, putting him out for our game against the Dawgs. These are serious charges, and Mark Richt has consistently shown that he is unafraid to deal out appropriate discipline in these kinds of situations, even to important players. His willingness to dismiss Zach Mettenberger, despite the QB issues in Athens, proves that. This isn't Urban Meyer or, apparently, Derek Dooley we're talking about. Losing Ealey for our game wouldn't kill UGA, as he would have been sharing carries with Caleb King, who is another very capable tailback. But it certainly wouldn't be a good thing in what could be a very important game in the SEC East race.