Police: KU football player charged with felonies had cash, weapon and marijuana in car
Kansas football cornerback Corione Harris faces two felony charges following an arrest in Howell County, Missouri.
KU coach Les Miles said Thursday that he has indefinitely suspended Harris from the team.
According to court records, Harris was arrested Sunday and later charged with unlawful use of a weapon and delivery of a controlled substance. Harris spent one day in jail, according to the court docket, with bond issued for $7,500 under the conditions that Harris could not drive if unlicensed and also could not possess a firearm.
Harris’ initial appearance was set for 9 a.m. Feb. 10 in Howell County Circuit Court.
When contacted, Miles released a statement to The Star on Thursday night, saying, “We are aware of the charges involving Corione Harris, and have suspended him indefinitely from all team-related activities.”
According to a probable cause statement obtained by The Star, Harris was pulled over on northbound U.S. Highway 63 by Howell County Sheriff’s Office deputy Nicholas Bruno around 6 p.m. Sunday after Harris’ vehicle cut off another car while merging into the right lane.
According to the affidavit, Bruno said he could “smell a raw odor of marijuana coming from Harris’ vehicle” when alerting him of the reason for the traffic stop. After Bruno asked Harris if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, Harris told him there was marijuana in the driver door and a firearm under the driver’s seat.
During his search, Bruno located a small amount of marijuana inside the driver door, a clear baggie in the middle console along with and a “large amount of U.S. currency,” a black digital scale in the glove department and a firearm under the front passenger seat.
In addition, during a look in the trunk, Bruno found a red Nike shoe box with a big bag “that contained smaller seven individual baggies” inside that contained a green leafy substance.
All items were seized by Bruno for evidence. The affidavit said that the eight total baggies containing marijuana weighed approximately eight ounces — exceeding the 35-gram amount that is needed for a felony amount of possession.
Howell County Dispatch also alerted Bruno that Harris had a suspended driver’s license. Harris was taken to the Howell County Jail and placed on 24-hour investigative hold, the affidavit stated.
Harris was previously arrested in Platte County, Missouri, in October on a failure to appear charge in relation to a speeding ticket. KU Athletics said at the time it would “handle the matter internally,” and Harris started the team’s next game at Texas.
When he first signed with KU in 2017, Harris was the Jayhawks’ first top-100 football recruit. Ranked 97th at the time by Rivals, Harris picked KU over Mississippi State, choosing to join high school teammate Mike Lee on the Jayhawks’ roster.
Harris, during his sophomore year, started six of KU’s first nine games in 2019 before missing the final three because of injury. He recorded 15 tackles and two pass breakups.
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 8:49 PM.
