WICHITA, Kansas – Wichita police arrested 23-year-old Joseph Randle just before 3 a.m. Tuesday on suspicion of possession of marijuana.
He played high school football at Southeast Wichita High School before moving on to Oklahoma State. Randle is a running back for the Dallas Cowboys.
Wichita police say they were called to a hotel on South Main street in Wichita early Tuesday morning after receiving a call of domestic violence involving a 22-year-old woman.
“Officers arrived and contacted a 22-year-old female who reported she was in a disturbance with a 23-year-old male. Officers arrived and contacted the 22-year-old and the 23-year-old at the room that was rented out to the 23-year-old,” said Lt. James Espinoza, with the Wichita Police Department. “The call came in with disturbance of a weapon. There were no injuries to the female.”
Officers found a small amount of marijuana in the room.
“It is considered an arrest because of the small amount of marijuana found in the room, officers have the discretionary to cite and give a court date which was due in this situation,” said Espinoza.
Wichita Police clarified the difference between a Notice to Appear and an arrest.
An NTA is basically a citation for a misdemeanor crime. It is technically an arrest and an arrest report is filled out but the person isn’t booked into jail. The person is released with an agreement to appear for a set court date. This helps reduce overcrowding and jail expenses. It is common practice for certain non-violent misdemeanor crimes, such as shoplifting and possession of marijuana. – Wichita Police Department Twitter, @WichitaPolice
Police say Randle and the woman have a child together, and she was visiting him at the hotel. They add there were no arrests in the domestic violence case.
“There was a report of a weapon there, but an associate of the 23-year-old had taken it with him. It was a handgun,” added Espinoza.
In October, Randle was arrested at a Dillards in Dallas for suspicion of shoplifting underwear and cologne.
Because of the amount of marijuana, it is considered a misdemeanor charge.
KXAS-TV in Dallas reports that Randle’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, said on Twitter that Randle was not arrested and that he was only cited with a ticket. He said Randle was asking three people to leave his room, who refused, and that there was “zero violence of any kind.” He added that Randle went to sleep after the police left.
The Dallas Cowboys have not issued an official response.RELATED LINK | Former Wichita Southeast High star and Dallas Cowboys running back arrested
POLICE ARREST RECORD
