Brian Fisher in Trouble Again

[Brad]

Fisher arrested again, charged with driving on suspended license

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer

Published February 5, 2005

TAMPA - Former USF football star Brian Fisher was arrested for the fourth time in 11 months Thursday, charged with a felony count of driving with a suspended license as a habitual offender and a misdemeanor count of giving a false name to an officer.

Fisher, who is attending Hillsborough Community College with the hope of returning to USF this fall, was released on $2,500 bond early Friday morning. USF's offensive MVP in 2003, he left the program last summer after multiple arrests relating to nonpayment of child support.

While his return remains unlikely, Bulls coach Jim Leavitt said he hasn't ruled it out, providing he clears up his problems.

"If he gets all his academic work done, I told him we would sit down then and discuss whether to go forward from there," said Leavitt, who was unaware of the arrest.

Leavitt also said he might allow receiver Darren Haliburton to return in the spring, though not on scholarship.

Haliburton spent three months in jail last spring after he pleaded guilty to two counts of battery, including one noted as domestic violence, and trespassing. He was arrested in September 2003, accused of battery on a pregnant ex-girlfriend in two separate campus incidents. He remains on probation, and has been enrolled at USF since last fall. He would have two years of eligibility remaining if reinstated.

"Coach Leavitt has told me that if I came back, my next mistake would be my last mistake," Haliburton said last month. "Darren Haliburton isn't going to make any more mistakes, and you can write that down."

'NOLE ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE: Florida State redshirt freshman defensive tackle Chris Bradwell was arrested and charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, a misdemeanor, late Thursday and has been suspended from the team indefinitely.

Tallahassee Police officers showed up at Bradwell's on-campus dorm in connection with the fraudulent use of a credit card belonging to freshman fullback Joe Surratt. The officers could smell marijuana and, after asking to enter the room, saw the drug on the computer desk, police said.

Bradwell, who played in five games and had one tackle last season, was taken to the Leon County jail and bonded out for $150 at 5:09 a.m. The use of the credit card, a misdemeanor, is still under investigation, but if Bradwell repays Surratt, it's likely that police won't pursue it further.

According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records, Bradwell, 21, pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct (an adjudication of guilt was withheld) when he was arrested in August 2003 by the Tallahassee police on a felony charge of obstructing a firefighter.

USF LOSES PRIZED RECRUIT: USF had hoped to bolster its recruiting class by adding coveted defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois of Miami Carol City, but he appears to be headed to LSU. "He came into my office and asked for his scholarship papers for LSU," Carol City coach Walt Frazier said. "He said he was going to sign with LSU (Friday)." LSU and USF did not report any new signees.

MORE MONEY FOR BCS TEAMS: While changes to the Bowl Championship Series ranking system still appear months away, there will be more money for the top teams. Commissioners from the 11 Division I-A conferences and Notre Dame's athletic director reached agreements in principle with the Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls to remain part of the BCS through 2009. The Rose Bowl has its own deal. Under the deal that would go into effect during the 2006 season, team payouts would start around $17-million and increase to about $18.5-million by the end of the deal. BCS teams from last season will get about $16-million each.

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These are almost like Seth stories....he's gone - move on right?

[Markeymark]

Is anyone surprised?

[ChiTownBull]

 

he better be gone....

[No_Willie_Jokes_Yet]

Okay. I am not, I repeat not defending him BUT:

I would imagine his attorney will walk into court and state that the child support issue has been taken care of. Brian wasnt properly served or something like that, ergo his license should not have been taken away. Therefore, his last arrest for driving on a suspended license should have been cleared up as well as this one. If he isnt guilty of his child support issue, shouldnt he have his license back?

Of course the judge could say he was legitimately told his license was suspended and drove anyway, ergo his intent was to break the law.

Brian needs to get ALL of this straightened up. I am pretty sure if he got his "entry fee" waived for that semi-pro team then he will be ineligible anyway.

[Markeymark]

Okay. I am not, I repeat not defending him BUT:

I would imagine his attorney will walk into court and state that the child support issue has been taken care of. Brian wasnt properly served or something like that, ergo his license should not have been taken away. Therefore, his last arrest for driving on a suspended license should have been cleared up as well as this one. If he isnt guilty of his child support issue, shouldnt he have his license back?

Of course the judge could say he was legitimately told his license was suspended and drove anyway, ergo his intent was to break the law.

Brian needs to get ALL of this straightened up. I am pretty sure if he got his "entry fee" waived for that semi-pro team then he will be ineligible anyway.

It's pretty simple - you either a) have a valid driver license or you do not have a valid driver license.

Why risk it if you know your license isn't valid?

[Brad]

Of course the judge could say he was legitimately told his license was suspended and drove anyway, ergo his intent was to break the law.

Every time I drive my car - my intent is to break the law.  I was recently ticketed for it by Arizona's finest.  Big deal.  Breaking the speed limit.  I hope I am allowed back at work on Monday - and I sure hope my academic career is not jeopardized either.

[hightechbull]

It's pretty simple - you either a) have a valid driver license or you do not have a valid driver license.

Why risk it if you know your license isn't valid?

Not defending Fisher either, but...

Maybe he was driving to HCC to attend a class?  Who knows why he was driving.  The public transportation in Tampa, let alone Florida is pathetic.  Taking away someones driver's license is like taking away the ablity to breathe air.  Driving may be a privlege, but you cannot function in today's society without a car.  One day people will figure this out, but probably only after we run out of oil.  

[Markeymark]

Not defending Fisher either, but...

Maybe he was driving to HCC to attend a class?  Who knows why he was driving.  The public transportation in Tampa, let alone Florida is pathetic.  Taking away someones driver's license is like taking away the ablity to breathe air.

You do what you gotta do...if you think it's worth risking getting thrown in jail to drive somewhere, that's your prerogative I guess.

I used to work with a guy who was in an auto accident and there was no insurance available to provide rental car. So, for about 2 weeks he rode his bike to work from Pinellas Park to Tampa across the Courtney Campbell. If a person has the ability to prioritize and budget time appropriately then they can get things done. As a USF student you would have thought Fisher might have been able to consider all of this before getting behind the wheel without a valid license.

[Guest BasketBull.]

Here's a thought: Why does this guy get pulled over so often?

---when was the last time you were pulled over?

Good drivers do not get pulled over!

[hightechbull]

So, for about 2 weeks he rode his bike to work from Pinellas Park to Tampa across the Courtney Campbell.

Funny, it is illegal to take a non-motorized vehicle on interstates and most bridges (unless they have a sidewalk for non-vehicles), but I am unfamiliar with Courtney Campbell since I rarely drive that bridge.

That being said, I believe Fisher lost his license because he did not pay child support.  Some laws are very stupid, and put people in positions where they will only perform more illegal activities.   They want you to pay child support, so you have to go to work, which typically involves driving to get to work, but they took away your license because you did not pay child support, so you either do not work and not pay child support and break that law, or you drive a car to get to work and break that law, etc, etc, etc.