Authorities, according to documents obtained by ESPN, allege that records related to 'drug deals' were found on the phone of University of Alabama basketball player Aden Holloway after he was stopped on Monday on third-degree drug charges.
The team removed the player from campus and separated him from his teammates after police discovered 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his apartment, forcing Holloway to miss Alabama's game, which won 90-70 against Hofstra in the NCAA tournament's round of 64 on Friday.
According to the documents, an officer from the West Alabama Drug Task Force found 'drug deal' information on Holloway's phone after seizing $400 from his jacket. Holloway told the officer he used marijuana for personal use only and had obtained the quantity from out of state.
The complaint filed on Friday reads: 'The funds were seized due to seeing drug deals on Holloway's phone, with text messages indicating they would meet him after the season. Holloway had small denominations of cash suggesting possible drug sales. The marijuana was packaged in separate forms, from plastic bags to pre-packaged containers to vacuum-sealed bags.'
The search warrant indicates that police searched his apartment after a trash pull, where they found marijuana and related paraphernalia in the trash bags taken from the dumpster, which contained containers labeled with Holloway's name. The warrant mentions that the trash pull occurred after 'complaints' were received, though the documents do not specify the nature of these complaints.
His attorney Jason Neff told ESPN that the police violated Holloway's constitutional rights when they conducted the trash pull and used what was found as probable cause for the apartment search. He added that he intends to challenge the basis of the search with a motion to suppress evidence for violating the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Neff noted that he hopes to arrange a meeting with university officials next week after the spring break to lift the university-imposed ban preventing Holloway from attending classes, which could also open the possibility for him to rejoin the team if Alabama qualifies for the next rounds.
Alabama coach Nate Oats expressed his support for the player, voicing concern and refusing to abandon him after making a 'mistake,' but he appeared pessimistic about Holloway's immediate return to the court.
Holloway was released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail after posting a $5,000 bond. He faces charges of possession of a controlled substance 'not for personal use' and failure to affix a tax stamp; both are felonies that could carry a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.