Tech’s Vassallo, Tucker charged with shoplifting
Virginia Tech basketball standout A.D. Vassallo and ex-Hokie Chris Tucker were arrested and charged with shoplifting by Virginia State Police on Thursday in Christiansburg, two days before Vassallo played in the Hokies' win over Columbia.
Athletic director Jim Weaver said yesterday that Vassallo was not suspended from playing in the team's two games last weekend because he has not yet seen a police report. Another reason, said Weaver, is that he does not believe the senior forward did anything wrong.
Vassallo, the Hokies' leading scorer, and Tucker were arrested by Trooper G.A. Syres at 1:54 a.m. Thursday at a Stop-in Food Stores convenience store in Christiansburg, police said.
Both have been charged with petit larceny shoplifting, a misdemeanor involving an item worth less than $200. The item was a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper soda, police said. The trooper was in the store at the time of the incident, police said.
Vassallo, an All-ACC second-team pick last season, is averaging a team-high 19.3 points for the Hokies this season. Vassallo and Tucker, a Lord Botetourt graduate who was a senior reserve on the 2006-07 Hokies, are due to appear in Montgomery County General District Court on Feb. 11.
-- Roanoke Times
Reader Reactions
to Eleazar:
You are kidding! You might be one of the funniest comedians I ever read. “Kids getting a free ride… their behavior needs to be above question” “lest he become another OJ”
You crack me up.
And I thought the writers strike was over…. this guy (gal?) must be from the Tonight Show.
Eleazar, LOL, thanks for the chuckle! Certainly he should be punished IF the allegations prove to be true. Officers can and do make mistakes (and do far worse) you know - not saying that’s the case here, but let’s let it play out.
But to say the kid could become another OJ because he either took a 12 pack of Dr. Pepper or drove his buddy away from the store knowing his buddy had taken a 12 pack is certifiable! I’m guessing your college days are long, long behind you. Again, not excusing the conduct, but please, let’s put it in perspective.
To b1matthews: Serious as a heart attack. 1) The issue isn’t guilt or innocence; it’s the discredit and negative public opinion that his behavior caused the team and the university. 2) He was driving the get-away car…at a minimum, he’s an accessory. 3) Irrelevant…see 1) above. 4) Vassallo should have told the coach or AD before the story hit the press. If he didn’t, that’s another problem. Unless Vasallo is a minor, the police have no obligation to tell Weaver or anyone else, anything. 5) Forgiveness comes after the admission of guilt and administration of punishment. So far, I haven’t seen an admission of guilt and sitting out one game is hardly punishment. These kids are getting free or partially free rides to prestigious schools. Their behavior needs to be above question. There is a possibility that he will get what is referred to in some states as an “advanced rehabilitative disposition,“ assuming that he hasn’t been in trouble before and can behave for some period of time into the future. That means no record and, in most cases unsupervised probation…it’s a joke. There needs to be some serious sanction for this relatively petty incident now, lest he become another OJ or Michael Vick.
Good Lord! Hasn’t hesufferred enough? He didn’t get to start one meaningless game! He was driving. The other guy stole it. He was right there. Did anybody think to tell Vassello that is a crime? I’m glad U of R didn’t take him way back when. People who steal things and get forgiven are not on my top list, and yes, U of R DID have one guy who did it last year. I personally wanted him gone, but then, I’m a cold-heated person who obeys the law.
Well, one does not have to be convicted in a court of law to be suspended from the team for violating team rules.
Secondly, they were not in the store. They drove up to the Dr. Pepper 12-packs that were on display outside of the store and grabbed one.
Are you folks serious? One) Charged does not mean guilty Two) How can you shoplift if you are still in the store? Three) Do you realize that VT’s compliance rules EXCEED those required by NCAA? Four) How would Weaver know that he was charged if the Police didn’t notify him? Five) Forgiveness is a gift, not a weakness or a crime. Giving people a second chance (or a third, fourth, fifth, etc…) is what the Christmas season is all about. Why are you SO quick to condemn? If he is guilty, believe me… he’ll pay. Marcus was cut from the team, wasn’t he?
This is just another incident where the athletic department at Virginia Tech will go to any lengths to shield their top “talent”. The whole department should be fired and replaced with people that have values that are in sync with ethics and honesty. One has to wonder what the recruitment guidelines are for VT.
weaver has long history of making excuses for Gobblers who exhibit bad behavior. You may recall how he gave Marcus Vick many “last chances”. Weaver is an enabler. He should be fired.
Weaver’s excuses for not suspending Vassallo immediately are suspect…“didn’t see the police report”...“did not believe the senior did anything wrong?“ Stealing isn’t wrong? Vassallo (and all collegiate athletes) should immediately report an arrest to the coaches and ADs. If he didn’t that’s one matter. The police report? That’s actually none of Weaver’s business and it’s not up to Weaver to pass any judgments on the report.
Maybe Weaver needs a few weeks off to reconsider.
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