Dana Caldwell

dana.caldwell@naplesnews.com; 239-213-6029

The reason sophomore swingman CJ Williamsonbey, better know as Williamson, was suspended indefinitely from the Florida Gulf Coast University basketball team on Feb. 2 has surfaced.

Williamsonbey (his legal name) was arrested by university police along with fellow FGCU student Jordan Burkes on Feb. 9 in connection with an auto burglary in Garage B on Feb. 2.

Both were charged with one count of grand theft of less than $5,000 and one count of burglary of conveyance.

Williamsonbey was released on bond from the Lee County Jail on Friday.

According to the police report, Burkes told university police he was being represented by a public defender for “a similar charge that occurred in early January of 2017.”

The 6-foot-6 Williamsonbey has been sitting out this season due to NCAA rules following his transfer from Texas Tech.

His status with the team is shaky. For now, the Orlando native technically still is on the team. He remains on the roster. However, since his Feb. 2 suspension, Williamsonbey has not practiced or worked out with the Eagles. He has not been at games.

“He’s not participating in any team activities at all,” said Jason MacBain, FGCU’s director of athletics communication. “He’s not been involved in the program at all.”

FGCU coach Joe Dooley has declined to comment further until the case or Williamsonbey’s team status is resolved.

Williamsonbey still is enrolled in classes, and he and Burkes are scheduled for an appearance March 13.

The arrest report was released Saturday.

On Feb. 2, university Police Chief Steven Moore sent an email to students, faculty and staff that included photos — gleaned from surveillance video — of the two then-suspects.

Later that afternoon Williamsonbey was identified via several tips and from within the athletic department.

Via a digital audio recording, Williamsonbey confessed to Dooley later that afternoon, authorities said. He then requested a meeting with UPD Detective Joseph Anderson, to whom he confessed and also implicated Burkes, the arrest report said.

MacBain said Dooley immediately suspended Williamsonbey after he was identified.

“So Joe suspended him indefinitely based on the fact that he was listed as a suspect,” MacBain said.

At 6 p.m. Feb. 2, FGCU sent out an email announcing Williamsonbey’s indefinite suspension.

In it, Dooley stated: “Unfortunately, CJ has acted in a manner that is not consistent with the expectations for members of our program. As such, he has been indefinitely suspended from all team activities until further notice.”

According to the arrest report, FGCU police responded to a dispatch at 11:40 a.m. on Feb. 1 in Garage B after the victim contacted police at 11:30.

Also according to the report, surveillance cameras caught Williamsonbey and Burkes on the second floor of Garage B at around 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 31.

They were walking among cars, testing door handles, the report states. At approximately 2:56 p.m., Burkes was seen entering the victim’s vehicle — a black 2013 Toyota — via the driver’s side door.

Williamsonbey and Burkes are accused of taking several items, including a GPS, a gold and diamond necklace the victim valued at $2,000, and a charm necklace valued at $40.

According to the arrest report, the pair claimed they only pocketed the charm necklace, and Williamsonbey and Burkes met with Anderson on Feb. 9 and turned it over.

On Friday, Moore sent an FGCU-wide email stating that “some of the property was recovered, and the subjects arrested.”

Williamsonbey is the third FGCU men’s basketball player to be arrested in the past year.

On July 9, Eagles sophomore point guard Reggie Reid and sophomore swingman Rayjon Tucker were arrested by campus police after Reid was pulled over for speeding and officers found Reid to be in possession of 21.5 grams of marijuana.

Tucker was charged with possession of 18.5 grams. Anything over 20 grams is considered a felony.

Reid and Tucker both pleaded out on misdemeanor charges and have completed their legal process, which included fines and community service.

They both were held back from the Eagles’ August trip to the Bahamas for three exhibition games and were given extra community service by Dooley.

Dooley and FGCU athletic director Ken Kavanagh both said the players responded well to the adversity and punishments.