Two UTRGV student-athletes have been arrested on alcohol and drug charges.
Incoming freshman baseball player Santana Barrera was arrested last weekend on a charge of driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana, both class B misdemeanors.
Markeisha Watson, a transfer women’s basketball player in her first season with the program, was arrested on a charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor, a class A misdemeanor.
Just before midnight last Saturday, Santana, was pulled over in a white Ford F-150 on Kuhn Street, near UTRGV’s Edinburg campus, for driving without lights.
During the traffic stop, the arresting officer said he noticed a “strong odor of burnt marijuana,” according to the police report.
The officer conducted a search of the vehicle, where he found the controlled substance, as well as a half-empty bottle of whiskey. Barrera,19, allegedly admitted ownership of the bottle and Watson, 22, allegedly admitted to purchasing the liquor.
The officer administered a field sobriety test; however, Barrera was unable to complete it. He yielded a .102 and .111 BAC during the Breathalyzer exam; however, as a minor, any BAC over 0 warrants a DWI charge, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission website.
The UTRGV Athletics Department issued a statement today regarding the arrests.
“We are aware of the student-athletes’ arrests. We are currently in the process of gathering all of the facts and will not comment further until the investigation is complete,” UTRGV Director of Athletics Chris King said in a statement.
The magistrate set a personal recognizance bond of $5,000 each for Barrera and Watson.
