Gratz arrested following gum gaffe

ByMichael DiRocco ESPN logo
Monday, November 17, 2014

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars cornerback Dwayne Gratz found himself into a sticky situation early Sunday morning.

The second-year player was out of cash so he tried to use bubble gum to purchase several items at the on-site grocery store at the Ocean Reef Suits in Miami Beach, Florida. That began a chain of events that resulted in his arrest for disorderly intoxication and trespassing.

According to a Miami Beach Police Department report, Gratz argued with an employee at the store after he tried to pay for several items with bubble gum because he didn't have any money. After Gratz refused to leave the store and caused a disturbance that caused other customers to leave the store, the report said the employee called police.

The two MBPD officers that arrived noticed that Gratz had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol, the report said. They told Gratz to leave the store several times but he told police: "No. I'm not leaving."

That's when his bubble burst.

After being given one more chance to leave, Gratz was arrested at 5:53 a.m. and charged with disorderly intoxication and trespassing after a warning, both misdemeanors.

According to Miami-Dade County court records, Gratz spent the night in jail and was released on $1,000 bond on Monday morning.

Gratz missed Monday's practice -- the first since the Jaguars' 31-17 loss to Dallas on Nov. 9 -- and Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said any discipline would be handled internally.

"He had an unfortunate situation over the weekend," Bradley said. "It's not good, what took place, but it is a matter that we have to investigate even more. ... I want to talk to him and then we'll handle it within."

Gratz, the team's third-round draft pick in 2013, has started seven games this season and has a team-high five pass breakups.

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