ATHENS — The 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 at an area pet store, according to the police report.
Brini was arrested on a felony charge of forgery after an arrest warrant was issued. He was taken into custody by the Clarke County Sheriff’s office and booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail at 6 p.m. and released about three hours later on $5,700 bond.
Brini is alleged by police to have used a fake $100 bill to purchase $8 worth of merchandise on July 14 at Pet Supplies Plus, located at the Alps Village Shopping Center in Athens. The $100 bill later was revealed to be counterfeit.
During the July 14 purchase, Brini is alleged to have provided a different name, Trevon Shorter, and address from his own when he agreed to sign up for a Pet Supplies Plus rewards card.
Eight days later, according to the police report, the same cashier noticed the same person return to the store and use a debit card under the name of Latavious Brini. The cashier notified the manager, who called police.
There is no information on the report for the lag time between the July 22 call and the arrest on Tuesday. The arrest report said the store’s bank rejected the counterfeit bill “some time later” after the July 14 purchase.
Brini has not played this season and appeared headed for a redshirt. He was signed as a 3-star prospect from Mater Academy Charter in Hialeah Gardens, Fla.
There has been no word from UGA or the team yet on Brini’s arrest and his status going forward.
By rule, any Georgia athlete is immediately suspended upon a felony arrest, per the UGA student-athlete handbook. The athlete’s 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 also was arrested on charges pertaining to DUI and speeding.
According to the UGA handbook, a student-athlete is to be dismissed from a team for a third marijuana arrest, but 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.