UConn Athlete Arrested

[bullwark]

STORRS -- A.J. Price turned himself in to UConn police Friday morning.

He was arrested and charged with four counts of third-degree larceny and one count of making a false statement to police.

The arrest was made after a two-month investigation into the theft of four laptop computers taken from three campus dormitory rooms between June 9 -14.

Police said they expect to make two more arrests in connection with the burglaries but would not release the names of the others who are wanted.

Several university sources have indicated junior guard Marcus Williams is one of the other two suspects and will be arrested when he returns to campus.

Williams is currently in Argentina, where he is playing for USA Basketball in the under-21 world championship. Sources said the third man is not a UConn student.

Police said that Price and the two other suspects attempted to sell at least two of the laptop computers at a Manchester pawn shop.

They also said Price lied to them when giving a written statement during the investigation. Price allegedly told police he did not know where the missing computers were located.

But when police executed a warrant and searched Price's dorm room, they found two of the missing computers Police also said they seized cellular telephone records which revealed text message conversations between Price and the two other men that indicated he knew the whereabouts of the computers.

According to the arrest report, when Price was confronted by police about the text messages, he admitted that he knew the computers were in his room at the time he gave his statement to police.

The third-degree larceny charges that Price faces are Class D felonies and each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence and $5,000 fine.

The false statement charge is a Class A misdemeanor.

Price, who was released on $10,000 bond, is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court Aug. 23.