Virginia Tech sharpshooter Ty Outlaw charged with marijuana possession ahead of Duke game
The status for a key Virginia Tech player is up in the air ahead of Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup against Duke.
Senior guard Ty Outlaw is facing a possession of marijuana charge after police say they found marijuana in his Blacksburg, Virginia, apartment while Outlaw was with the team in California for the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament.
Outlaw started 19 games for the Hokies this season and is the team’s best 3-point shooter, hitting 45.6 percent of his attempts. He averages 8.7 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Virginia Tech has not addressed his status for Friday’s NCAA tournament game.
Cop got search warrant after smelling weed
A police report obtained by the Roanoke Times states that a Blacksburg police officer smelled “a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming” from Outlaw’s apartment when she arrived in reference to a narcotics violation on March 20, the same day Virginia Tech arrived in San Jose, California for its opening round game against St. Louis.
When nobody in the apartment responded to officer H.A. Rose, she left and obtained a search warrant, according to the report. Police returned the next day and seized one white pill, two yellow capsules, an electronic vape cartridge and green plant material from the apartment, according to the report.
A summons was issued this week and delivered to Outlaw on Tuesday after he had returned from San Jose.
DA says it doesn’t matter that Outlaw wasn’t home
Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt told the Associated Press via email that a person can be charged with possession of drugs “even if you are not present with the drugs. You need to have dominion and control over them and do not have to be in actual physical possession.”
Virginia Tech is scheduled to face Duke on Friday at 9:39 ET in Washington, D.C. with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.
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