The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 06:35 PM

Two UT Football Players Arrested For Drugs After Traffic Stop

The Knoxville Police Department said Wednesday two UT football players had been cited after a traffic stop Tuesday night around 10:46 p.m.

According to police, the vehicle carrying John Kelly and William Ignont was pulled over at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and 11th Street because the vehicle had a headlight out.

When the officer approached the vehicle and the window was rolled down, the officer noticed a "strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle." The officer asked Kelly, the vehicle's driver, to step out, and the officer asked for consent to search the vehicle.

The vehicle's search revealed a clear plastic baggie containing 4.6 grams of "a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana" in the center console, along with a glass pipe police said is "usually used to smoke marijuana."

Kelly and Ignont both told officers the items were not theirs. Since the items were found in the center console between the two, officers cited each of them with the following:
• John Kelly was charged with possession of a Schedule VI drug and a city citation for no headlight and no proof of insurance.
• William Ignont was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said Kelly and Ignont were cooperative and were allowed to drive off.

Both Kelly and Ignont are scheduled to appear in the Knox County Sheriff's Office for booking on November 7 at 7:30 a.m.

A spokesperson for UT Athletics say they were aware of the incident. The spokesperson said they are currently "in the process of gathering more information."