Tampa police arrested John Reaves last week, charging him with possession of cocaine and introduction of contraband into a detention facility

07:04 Tampa 0 Comments

"I didn't have cocaine on me - or anywhere in my office," Reaves said. "I don't have a substance-abuse problem. I'm fine. People are saying all this stuff about me, and it's not true."
John Reaves seemed to have it all. He was Tampa's foremost high-school football icon, leading Robinson High School to the brink of a state championship in 1967. At the University of Florida, he became the NCAA's all-time leading passer.
After a much-publicized restaurant altercation and standoff with police in 1980, in which he admitted "bottoming out" after several years of alcohol and drug addiction during an NFL career, he underwent treatment and pronounced himself clean. Later, he became quarterback of his hometown professional team, the United States Football League's Tampa Bay Bandits.
The hell-and-back story made the pages of Sports Illustrated. During the interview, the magazine's writer said Reaves, a born-again Christian, presented him with a Bible.Now trouble has again found Reaves, 58, a Realtor.
Tampa police arrested Reaves last week, charging him with possession of cocaine and introduction of contraband into a detention facility. He had been arrested on a warrant for aggravated assault firearm-possession earlier on Wednesday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office jail Web site.
Reaves said Monday he pointed a gun at someone in self-defense and that law enforcement planted the cocaine on him.
"That's the truth, yes sir," said Reaves, who acknowledged he has resumed drinking after staying clear of alcohol for 20 years, but hasn't used cocaine in "many, many years."Drug Claim 'Isn't Correct'Told that Reaves said the cocaine had been planted, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said, "His statement isn't correct, and it doesn't make sense because he was already going to jail on a more serious charge than possession of drugs."His bail was set at $9,000 after his arrest. He has been released from jail.Reaves pointed a chrome revolver at a person during an argument in June, and that person took pictures of the offense with a cell phone, a police report states.An officer went to Reaves' home to arrest him July 26 and could see someone looking out the window and later closing the wooden shutters on the inside of the front door."I had my firearm out and pointed it towards the door and ordered this individual out," the police report states. "This met with no avail."
After attempts failed to get the person out, a shift commander ordered officers out of the area, the report says.In the incident that led to the warrant, Tray Williams, who took the cell phone pictures, told police he was in his home with a friend when Reaves pulled into his driveway, blowing the car horn.Williams said that Reaves appeared intoxicated during the confrontation and "just started yelling profanities at me. It was just awful. Just way off the cuff."
Reaves asked whether Williams knew who he was and threatened him, Williams said.
Williams said he had moved a large foreclosure sign near his property and Reaves was upset. Williams said he left a note on the sign informing the owner that it was a traffic hazard and against city code.Reaves said he was a Realtor and "DO NOT TOUCH THAT SIGN AGAIN, YOU WANT ME TO HURT YOU," the report states.Reaves later pulled a gun on Williams, the report says.
Reaves said that during the argument, Williams had a cell phone in one hand and a gun in the other. The former football player said he took an unloaded gun out of his vehicle and pointed it at Williams in self-defense."I've never fired that gun," Reaves said. "I guess I didn't know you couldn't pull out a gun like that. I'm not a thief and I'm not a criminal, but I've made a lot of stupid mistakes.Reaves' attorney, Nicholas M. Matassini, said his client will plead not guilty to the charges against him.
"He was protecting himself, which he was entitled to do," Matassini said.
Williams said he was not carrying a gun in his confrontation with Reaves. He said he owns a gun but keeps it locked and inaccessible because he has children.
"I've got a family. It's just for protection," Williams said. "Nor would I ever think of pulling it out."
While Reaves was being processed at the jail, a deputy found cocaine in a bag in Reaves' possession, a second report states.
Reaves said six police officers stormed his office, ransacked it and searched every pocket he had before arresting him. "They stormed my office like I was Jesse James," he said.When he was searched in jail, a deputy pulled cocaine out of his pocket, he said. He claimed the police officers planted it there.