Fort Worth police say 18 people were arrested during a drug sting on and near TCU’s campus.
Editor's Note: Fort Worth police incorrectly identified Austin Williams Carpenter, 26, as one of the 19 arrested at TCU. Fort Worth police late Wednesday afternoon notified the media of their error. Fort Worth police said the incorrect warrant was canceled and that a corrected warrant would be issued. Police originally said 19 people were arrested, but Fort Worth police said later Wednesday that only 18 people were arrested.
A drug bust on and around Texas Christian University's campus in Fort Worth early Wednesday morning led to the arrest of 18 people, including four football players, school officials say.
During a news conference Wednesday morning, TCU officials said the students arrested sold drugs to undercover narcotics officers on campus and off-campus at a nearby 7-Eleven, a Kroger and a Hooters restaurant.
"There is no doubt, all of those arrested today are drug dealers," said Steve McGee, TCU chief of police. "These individuals engaged in hand-to-hand delivery for money with undercover narcotics agents. We will continue to work proactively to curtail drug use on the TCU campus."
Police released 19 arrest warrants at 11 a.m. One of those warrants was later canceled, and another warrant is for a student who was not arrested and is still at large.
Fort Worth police said Wednesday night that 18 arrests were made in total. The department said 17 people were arrested on arrest warrants. Another person was arrested "as a result of an on-view drug violation" on suspicion of possession of marijuana.
According to the warrants, the following student-athletes were arrested on suspicion of selling marijuana: David (D.J.) W. Yendrey, a junior defensive tackle from Edna; Devin Johnson, a junior defensive back from Oklahoma City; Tanner Wilson Brock Jr., a junior linebacker from Copperas Cove; Tyler (Ty) Horn, a sophomore offensive tackle from McGregor.
"There are days people want to be a head football coach, but today is not one of those days," head football coach Gary Patterson said. "As I heard the news this morning, I was first shocked, then hurt, and now I'm mad. Under my watch, drugs and drug use by TCU's student-athletes will not be tolerated by me or any member of my coaching staff, period. Our program is respected nationally for its strong ethics and, for that reason, the players arrested today were separated from TCU by the university."
According to the warrants, the other 12 students are: Bud Pollard Dillard, Cynthia (Cindy) Jaqueline Zambrano, Earl Patrick Burke, Jonathan Blake Jones (not to be confused with the Jonathan Jones who is on the football team and is in no way connected to this case), Katherine Ann Peitre, Matthew Iarossi Davis, Michael Gragg King, Peter Signavong, Richard Clay Putney, Scott (Scooter) Lee Anderson and Taylor Davis Cowdin.
In addition, former student Eduardo Hernandez was arrested.
Fort Worth police said Austin Williams Carpenter, 26, was also arrested but later said the arrest warrant listed the wrong person and included the wrong photograph.
Austin Williams Carpenter, 26, is not involved in the case. He told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he attended Texas Tech, not TCU.
Fort Worth police said the incorrect warrant was canceled and that a corrected warrant would be issued.
Fort Worth police also originally said Hunter Wallace McLaughlin, a TCU student, had been arrested Wednesday morning. But police said later Wednesday that McLaughlin had not been arrested and was still at large.
Click here to read the entire collection of arrest warrants in relation to this story. NOTE: Document contains 207 pages of warrants in PDF format and is 15MB in size.
McGee said the investigation began six months ago after multiple tips from students and parents.
"This shows that TCU students, staff and the community will not tolerate this kind of behavior on the TCU campus," McGee said.
McGee said the students sold marijuana, cocaine, Molly (Ecstasy in powder form), Ecstasy in pill form, acid and prescription drugs including Xanax, hydrocodone and others similar to OxyContin.
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TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. said the busts are not football problem, but a student problem. He said it was shocking and disappointing to learn of the investigation and arrests.
In a letter to students earlier Wednesday morning, Boschini said the university has never experienced such a magnitude of student arrests. The students who are involved were immediately separated from the school and subject to expulsion, he said.
In recent years, TCU police made only five on-campus arrests related to drug law violations. In 2011, the school said 71 students -- less than 1 percent of the student population -- were disciplined for drug law violations.
Investigators are still working to determine if the students arrested Wednesday were working independently or together and who their suppliers are.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing and that more arrests are possible.
Editor’s Note: The name of one of the people involved in this case has been removed from this article because the case against him was dismissed and his records were expunged.
Previous Coverage:
Article: Athlete Alludes to Rampant Drug Use on Team
Article: Names Revealed in TCU Drug Bust
Article: Majority of Students Face Multiple Charges
Article: Chancellor Victor Boschnini Statement on TCU Drug Bust
Gallery: Drug Bust Mug Shots
Video: TCU Drug Bust Timeline
Video: TCU Drug Sting Nets 17 Arrests
Video: Exclusive - Students Arrested in Drug Bust at TCU (Raw Video)
Video: "We Have Clear Expectations for Our Students" Chancellor Boschini, Jr.
Video: "Investigation Began 6 Months Ago" Chief Magee
Video: Community Differs in Reaction to TCU Drug Bust
