Freshman wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the former No. 1 recruit in the nation, and two other Missouri football players were arrested on drug charges Wednesday night.
Green-Beckham, freshman linebacker Torey Boozer and freshman wide receiver Levi Copelin were arrested just before midnight on charges of possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana, according to MU Police Department records.
Freshman defensive tackle Harold Brantley and freshman tight end Brandon Holifield were also in the car, but the investigation determined they had nothing to do with the marijuana and they were released.
MUPD spokesman Brian Weimer said the group was found in a white Lincoln Navigator in Lot G, just south of Memorial Stadium. The car belongs to Green-Beckham.
“The officer noticed the individuals sitting in a car and went up and made contact,” Weimer said. “The officer observed the odor of marijuana. Through the investigation, the officer made the arrest of three individuals.”
Green-Beckham, Boozer and Copelin were taken to the police department for processing and released on signature summons, Weimer said.
In a statement, team spokesman Chad Moller said the five will be suspended from the football program for the team’s home game against Vanderbilt on Saturday.
“We’re aware of the incident and have addressed it,” he said in the statement. “All individuals involved have been immediately suspended from the program for one game. All other disciplinary measures will be handled internally, and there will be no further comment.”
Green-Beckham, Boozer and Copelin’s arrests mark the third separate run-in with the law for football players since May. Redshirt freshman quarterback [Corbin Berkstresser was arrested](https://www.themaneater.com/blogs/crime/2012/5/15/missouri-quarterback-arrested-hit-and-run-charges/) May 15 on charges of leaving the scene of an accident. Freshman quarterback [Maty Mauk was arrested](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2012/8/31/freshman-quarterback-arrested-after-hit-and-run-in/) Aug. 30 after allegedly hitting multiple vehicles on his scooter; Mauk was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident, resisting arrest, operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner and failure to obey a traffic device.
Green-Beckham had his first collegiate touchdown last Saturday on an 80-yard pass in the team’s 21-16 win over Central Florida. Before then, Green-Beckham had just six catches for 48 yards through four games.
“His focus has certainly got to be getting better every week,” coach Gary Pinkel said. “Everything else will take care of itself.”
Pinkel said Green-Beckham’s 80-yard score, the team’s longest gain of the season, was an indicator of things to come.
“I think that was a glimpse of what we have here,” he said. “As he matures, he’s going to change the game when he touches the football. We got to get him the ball more; it’s obvious.”
