Prosecutors say there were ‘drug transactions’ found on the phone of University of Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway after he was arrested on Monday.
Police found Holloway with over two pounds of marijuana in his apartment – leading to his arrest on Monday just days before the start of March Madness.
Holloway did not play during Alabama’s opening game of the tournament – a 90-70 win over Hofstra on Friday.
In addition to the drugs, police seized $400 located in a jacket belonging to Holloway. An officer with the West Alabama Task Force also found ‘drug transactions’ on the player’s phone.
Holloway told the officer he only used the drugs for personal use and that he obtained it out of state.
‘The money is being seized due to seeing drug transactions on Holloway’s phone, with people texting that they were going to get up with him after the season,’ prosecutors said in a complaint filed Friday.
Police say they found ‘drug transactions’ on the phone of Alabama’s Aden Holloway
Holloway was arrested and charged with felony drug possession ‘not for personal use’
Police searched Holloway’s apartment after finding drugs and paraphernalia in his trash
‘Holloway had smaller denominations in his possession which is indicative of narcotic sales. The marijuana was in separate packing, from plastic bags to prepackaged marijuana to vacuum sealed bags.’
Authorities searched Holloway’s apartment after conducting a ‘trash pull’ and found marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia attached to containers with his name on them in two trash bags found in his garbage bin, the search warrant says.
The warrant also revealed that police pulled the star’s trash after there had been ‘complaints.’ Documents obtained by ESPN didn’t specify the source of the complaints or what they were about.
In a statement to ESPN, Holloway’s attorney – Jason Neff – accuses police of violating his client’s constitutional rights by pulling his trash and using what they found as probable cause.
‘In review of the probable cause [search warrant], once this case moves forward, we would challenge the basis of the search with a motion to suppress evidence for the violation of his Fourth Amendment rights,’ Neff said, referring to the amendment that protects against unlawful searches and seizures.
Additionally, Neff plans to meet with university officials next week to reverse a campus ban preventing Holloway from attending classes. This could be a step towards bringing him back to the team if Alabama makes the second weekend.
Holloway’s attorney is attempting to get him reinstated to the school to play in March Madness
But Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats wasn’t confident that could happen
However, when asked about Holloway before the game against Hofstra, Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats didn’t seem too optimistic about his player’s return.
‘I’ve got three daughters, they’ve made mistakes,’ Oats said. ‘You don’t disappear on them when they need your help. I won’t be disappearing on him. I talked to him yesterday morning on the phone, and the night before that.
‘I’ve talked to him every day. I’m going to continue to talk to him, love him, help him through this and we’ll see where it all takes him.’
Holloway has posted $5,000 bail and was released from the Tuscaloosa County jail after his arrest.
He has been charged with a Class C felony drug possession charge ‘not for personal use.’ Holloway has also been charged with a charge for failure to affix a tax stamp.
Both charges carry a maximum sentence of ten years in jail and a $15,00 fine.
