Jim Walsh

The Republic | azcentral.com

Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Max Hall was arrested Saturday on suspicion of possession of stolen items and cocaine, Gilbert police said.

Gilbert police were called to the Best Buy near Loop 202 and Williams Field Road about 11:30 a.m. Saturday after a store employee told police he saw Hall taking merchandise out of boxes and stuffing them in his backpack, according to a Gilbert police report released Monday afternoon.

Police also found a "personal use quantity of cocaine," according to the spokesman.

He immediately apologized to police and tried to make amends with the store's employees, according to the report. Hall told employees if he got caught he could get fired from his job and that he had never shoplifted before, according to the police report.

Police found $286 worth of electronics inside Hall's backpack, according to a police report.

At first, Hall told police that he purchased the items at a nearby Walmart but he was unable to produce a receipt, according to the police report.

Hall then acknowledged to police he had stolen some of the items at Walmart, according to the report.

The arresting officer wrote that he made another discovery inside the backpack.

"I located a clear, plastic bag that contained (2) hypodermic needles, a metal spoon, a lighter and a white plastic pill bottle," the report said.

Hall told police the white powder was cocaine, and a field test further confirmed the substance was an illegal narcotic, according to the police report.

Hall told the officer he had last used cocaine that morning and said he injected it near his elbow.

Officers released Hall following his arrest on suspicion of shoplifting and narcotics possession, police said.

Hall played football at Mesa Mountain View Highland and Brigham Young University. He joined the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent for the 2010 season.

He most recently served as Gilbert High's offensive coordinator.

A Gilbert Public Schools representative said the district is taking the accusations seriously but said administrators were still gathering information.