N.C. man says he rented car P.J. Hairston was driving

Eric Prisbell | USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 GMC Yukon rental car that North Carolina leading scorer P.J. Hairston was driving at the time of his June 5 arrest had been rented by a man named Haydn Thomas, according to the rental receipt obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Thomas, 39, of Durham, said he rented the car for himself and that a friend, Miykael Faulcon of Durham, had borrowed the car to go to a store when the arrest occurred.

"I don't know P.J. Hairston," Thomas told USA TODAY Sports. "I know Miykael, his friend. I don't know anyone at Carolina. I don't even like the Carolina team. Look at the age disparity between me and those boys. I could be their father."

Thomas rented the car at 10 p.m. June 2 at the Hertz location at Raleigh Durham International Airport, and the car was returned at 10:30 p.m. June 5. Thomas was charged $1261.64, according to the receipt. The license plate number on the rental receipt matches the one listed on the Durham (N.C.) police report of Hairston's arrest, as does the year, make and model of the vehicle.

The police report revealed that a 9-millimeter handgun and a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were seized during a traffic stop that led to Hairston's arrest on possession of marijuana charges. Three cigars and a plastic baggie that contained a half-ounce of marijuana also were seized.

Durham (N.C.) Police public information officer Kammie Michael had said by phone that the pistol, magazine and ammunition were all found outside the vehicle.

Hairston, 20, was driving Faulcon and Carlos Sanford in the silver Yukon, according to the police report. All three were arrested and charged with drug possession. Hairston also was charged with driving without a license.

Hairston, Faulcon and Sanford were each released on $1,000 unsecured bonds.

Thomas said he knew Faulcon from "partying at clubs." Thomas said he did not own the gun that was seized, and also that the marijuana found in the car was not his. He added that he is not a University of North Carolina athletic booster nor is he connected to a sports agent.

"Why am I being persecuted?" Thomas asked. "I did not rent nobody a car."

Hairston, a 6-5 rising junior, bypassed the NBA to stay at North Carolina for another season after averaging 14.6 points and 4.3 rebounds a game as a sophomore.

Last month North Carolina coach Roy Williams told USA TODAY Sports he was waiting for more information before making a decision about Hairston's status with the Tar Heels.

"The good thing is, I don't have to make a decision right now because we're in summer school, fall semester has not started, basketball has not started," Williams said. "We're going to wait and see what happens. I've got some ideas, but right now those ideas are staying in my mind.

"I am waiting until all the facts come in and then I will take care of everything that needs to be taken care of."

Eric Prisbell, a national college basketball reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @EricPrisbell.