The forgery arrest of Georgia freshman defensive back Latavious Brini on Tuesday night stemmed from an investigation into an incident in July, when a counterfeit $100 bill was passed by someone who provided a different name from his own.
Brini was arrested on a felony charge of first-degree forgery, after Athens-Clarke County issued an arrest warrant, which was subsequently executed on Tuesday night by the Clarke County Sheriff’s office.
Brini is alleged by police to have used a fake $100 bill to purchase $8 worth of merchandise on July 14 at a Pet Supplies Plus store, located at the Alps Shopping Center in Athens. He then received $92 cash in return. The store realized later at a bank drop that the $100 bill was counterfeit.
During the purchase, Brini, referred to as the subject in the police report, is alleged to have provided a different name (Trevor Shorter) and address from his own when he started a rewards card.
The police were called on July 22 by the manager of the store, because the same cashier said the same person had returned to the store and used a debit card with a different name (Latavious Brini) according to the report.
Brini has not played this season and appeared headed for a redshirt. He was a three-star prospect out of Mater Academy Charter in Miami Gardens, Fla.
There has been no official word from UGA or the team yet on Brini’s arrest and his status going forward.
By rule, any UGA athlete is immediately suspended upon a felony arrest, per the student-athlete handbook. Their status going forward is then reviewed by a committee in the athletic department, the handbook stipulates.
This is the seventh known arrest for a Georgia player this calendar year, and the third since the SEC championship game. Linebacker Natrez Patrick and receiver Jayson Stanley were arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges after a traffic stop hours after the championship. Stanley was also arrested for DUI and speeding.
Georgia’s handbook would call for a dismissal for a third marijuana arrest, but head coach Kirby Smart has not yet confirmed that in Patrick’s case.
A UGA spokesman said Wednesday that there was “no info yet” on the status of either Patrick or Brini.
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