Baseball player arrested, charged
September 29, 2008 by SHANNESSA FAKOUR
Filed under News
A University baseball player was arrested Saturday and charged with underage consumption/possession of alcohol, according to a police report.
Matthew Stephen Cerione, a junior from Alpharetta, who is the starting centerfielder for the Diamond Dogs, was also charged with unlawful use of ID, open container and littering. He was spotted by police carrying an open beer bottle at 2 a.m.
According to the report:
Cerione tried to conceal the bottle when the officer approached him. The officer stopped him and asked for ID, and Cerione threw the beer bottle to the ground. Cerione gave an ID that belonged to Michael Anthony Cerione, a 2007 University alumnus, whose birthdate was 1984. The officer saw similarities in the photograph but knew Cerione was not the person on the ID.
The officer asked if Cerione had another ID. As Cerione began looking, the officer immediately saw a Georgia driver’s license in the area of his wallet where cash is kept.
Cerione skipped over the ID, acting as though he did not see it, but the officer retrieved it. The ID showed Cerione was under 21.
Cerione would not comment on his arrest when contacted by The Red & Black on Sunday.
For an alcohol-related offense, baseball players may miss 10 percent of their games, according to Athletic Association policy. The Diamond Dogs play between 50 and 60 games per season.
An hour before Cerione chucked his bottle, another student tried to hide alcohol from police and resist arrest.
Duncan Devane Walker, a freshman from Macon, was charged with obstruction, underage possession of alcohol, possession of fake ID and open container Saturday at 1 a.m.
According to the report:
The officer saw Walker leave a fraternity house at 247 Pulaski St. He was carrying an open bottle of Evan Williams brand whiskey that had about two inches of liquid left. Walker noticed the officer and cursed. Walker quickly hid the open bottle behind his body.
He tried to retreat up the steps when the officer chased him and stopped him near the front door. The officer told Walker to put his hands behind his back. He refused and struggled to get away, but the officer pulled him back to the sidewalk on Pulaski Street. Walker still held the one liter whiskey bottle. The officer forced Walker to the ground, breaking the bottle on the sidewalk.
Walker did not have an ID but told the officer he was 18.
Walker could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
