Former Louisville basketball player accused of having drugs, stolen gun

Thomas Novelly | Louisville Courier Journal

This story was updated to reflect that Behanan's arraignment was rescheduled from Monday to Wednesday.

Chane Behanan, who played on the University of Louisville's NCAA championship team in 2013, was arrested Saturday evening.

Behanan was accused of being a backseat passenger in a car that had “marijuana residue” and was sitting next to a stolen “AK-47-style rifle,” according to an arrest citation.

The rifle was stolen from Troy, Indiana, according to a background check.

The traffic stop happened around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday on Seventh Street Road, according to information from Louisville Metro Police.

You may like: 2013 Louisville players take diplomatic stance on school vs. Rick Pitino

Behanan faces charges of possession of marijuana and one count of possession of a stolen firearm.

Behanan was not driving the vehicle, according to an arrest citation, but everyone in the vehicle received similar charges.

Behanan, 25, helped lead the Cardinals to the 2013 NCAA championship, which was vacated in February by the NCAA over a sex scandal involving recruits.

Before the start of the 2013-2014 season, then Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino dismissed Behanan from the team over an undisclosed violation of team rules. It was later revealed it was for marijuana use.

Photos posted to Louisville Metro Police's Facebook page show the items confiscated in the search. The post describes them as 5.5 ounces of marijuana, marijuana-laced cigars, blunts, an AR-15 rifle and an AK-47.

Behanan is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning.

Thomas Novelly: tnovelly@courierjournal.com, 502-582-4465. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/tomn.