Former Memphis Tigers Arrested

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Former Memphis Tiger basketball players Shawne Williams and Kareem Cooper were arrested Friday afternoon.

Both were booked at the same time.

Friday afternoon officers of the Organized Crime Unit stopped a Dodge Charger at Winchester/ Graceland, where Williams was arrested for driving with a suspended license and a seatbelt violation.

Officers checked the passenger of the vehicle, Cooper, after smelling a strong odor of marijuana, and found 17.22 grams of marijuana and a loaded gun in his possession.

Cooper was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm. Shawne Williams was arrested for driving without a seatbelt and driving while his license was suspended, revoked, or confiscated.

Williams has posted a $250 bond and has been released. Cooper is still in jail.

Cooper played for the Memphis Tigers in 2005-2006 season after coming from a highly noted prep school.

Williams, a former first-round draft choice, spent a year out of the league after multiple off-court issues, arrests and weight problems.

The Indiana Pacers selected Williams with the 17th overall pick in the 2006 draft. The Bobcats are giving Williams a chance to rekindle his playing career in the summer league in Orlando, Fla.

Indeed, the rap sheet for Williams is long:

-- Indiana suspended him three games after he was arrested when police found marijuana in the SUV he was driving.
-- He left early from a Pacers game when a murder suspect in Tennessee was arrested shortly after leaving Williams' suburban Indianapolis home.
-- Police arrested a passenger in Williams' car for marijuana possession, a move that led the Pacers to trade Williams to Dallas.
-- He appeared in just 15 games over two seasons and was told essentially to stay away from the Mavericks because of behavioral issues.
-- The Mavericks traded Williams to New Jersey in January, but he was quickly waived after coach Kiki Vandeweghe said he was "way out of shape."
-- Hours later, Williams was indicted in Memphis on eight counts of possession and conspiracy to sell a codeine-based syrup.