Saturday's announcement that LSU had suspended freshman linebacker Donte Starks from the football team came a day after he was arrested in Marrero by Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office narcotics detectives.

Starks, 19, was jailed Friday night on counts of illegally possessing a concealed handgun and attempting to run away from deputies who stopped him while investigating a complaint about armed men selling crack cocaine, Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jason Rivarde said Wednesday.

Rivarde said deputies did not find any drugs during Starks’ arrest, and he is not accused of selling narcotics.

LSU athletics officials confirmed Wednesday they were aware of the arrest but declined additional comment beyond the original statement that announced Starks' suspension.

LSU linebacker Donte Starks suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules, Orgeron says LSU freshman linebacker Donte Starks has been indefinitely suspended from the football team for violation of team rules, Tigers coach Ed Orger…

The former four-star recruit from Marrero’s John Ehret High School was quickly released from jail on a pair of $500 recognizance bonds due to overcrowding, Jefferson Parish court records show. His next court appearance has not been scheduled.

According to Rivarde, members of the JPSO narcotics division were at Meyers Boulevard and Field Street about 8 p.m. Friday investigating a report that men with handguns were peddling crack cocaine.

Deputies spotted Starks next to his car with two other men, Rivarde said. When deputies tried to detain the group, Rivarde said, Starks and another man took off while the third man stayed put.

Starks ignored “several verbal commands to stop,” but deputies caught up to him and handcuffed him after a brief struggle, Rivarde said.

Deputies said they found a loaded handgun in Starks’ backpack. They booked him with illegally carrying a concealed weapon as well as resisting law enforcement officers by flight. Both counts are misdemeanors and can carry maximum sentences of six months in prison.

The second man who ran from deputies managed to escape. Deputies let the man who did not run go after they determined he did not commit any crimes, Rivarde said.

On the morning after Starks' arrest, LSU football coach Ed Orgeron announced that he had been indefinitely suspended from the squad for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Starks played in three games in 2019, mostly on special teams, after missing preseason camp while he worked on becoming academically eligible. His suspension comes as LSU seeks replacements for starters at linebacker who declared for the NFL draft following the Tigers' undefeated season and national championship game victory over Clemson.

In a social media post Monday, Starks issued an apology for what he described as a mistake.

“I know everybody saw or heard the news,” read the post on Starks’ Instagram page. “But I want y’all to know that I’m truly sorry for the disappointments but I could say I am still young and have some growing up to do.”

Starks said his arrest “had nothing to do with drugs.”

“I can say this is not the end of me I will get everything together and make it right and be back with my brothers soon,” the post concluded.