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Published Friday, Feb. 15, 2008 | 6:44 p.m.
Updated Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 | 2 p.m.
UNLV suspended sophomore basketball player Marcus Lawrence after he was arrested early Friday morning for driving under the influence and failure to drive in a travel lane.
Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Kevin Honea said Lawrence, 20, was the only occupant in a single-vehicle crash around 7 a.m. on highway 215, just past the airport connector.
Lawrence fled, Honea said, but was picked up a short time later by officers who were helped by eyewitness accounts.
A Clark County Detention Center spokesperson told the Sun that Lawrence was still in custody Friday at 6 p.m. Legislation passed in October dictates that those arrested on DUI charges are held for 12 hours at the detention center. Lawrence's bail was set at $2,200 for both charges.
A misdemeanor hearing was scheduled for Lawrence on Sunday at 8:05 a.m. Friday night, while Lawrence was still in custody at the detention denter, Rebels coach Lon Kruger said he was aware of the circumstances of Lawrence's arrest.
After practice Friday morning, the team caught a flight to Provo, Utah, where the Rebels play Brigham Young on Saturday night.
Kruger said he had not been able to speak with Lawrence — a reserve guard from Bishop Gorman High, who was receiving sporadic playing time — but Kruger had talked with Lawrence's mother, Carmen.
Kruger said he does not have a blanket policy regarding players who get arrested.
"Hopefully, we try to do what's in the best interest of each guy, Marcus or anyone else," Kruger said. "We'll talk to him, get back to town and see where we're at."
Lawrence served a suspension at the beginning of the season for academic issues.
This is surprising and a shame. Marcus is very bright young man who had a stellar freshman season, and was a sane voice on his Gorman team at a time of chaos around that program. This kind of mistake comes as a shock.