Whitaker arrested again
Monday, October 6, 2008; 2:21 PM

Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. It was updated at 11:19 p.m. with with new information.

Virginia Tech wide receiver Ike Whitaker was arrested on public intoxication charges after blowing a .33 Blood Alcohol level early Friday, Oct. 3, outside Oge Chi's dance club. Officer Sedrick Hayes, of the bicycle mounted unit, made the arrest said Sgt. Nathan O'Dell. Whitaker appeared to be in the midst of a verbal altercation when Officer Hayes intervened and noticed Whitaker had slurred speech, glassy red eyes, and appeared to be intoxicated, said O'Dell.

Whitaker, who was recently suspended by head coach Frank Beamer, said he is still on scholarship and will finish out classes to complete his degree. The hearing for Whitaker's case is scheduled for Nov. 6 at the Montgomery General District Court in Blacksburg.

After being released on his own recognizance Friday morning, Whitaker's parents drove down from Germantown, Md., and picked him up that afternoon. He has since spent the weekend relaxing with his family at home and plans to come back to Blacksburg today or Wednesday.


Last Wednesday, Whitaker sat down with Beamer and learned he would be indefinitely suspended for missing a morning meeting. Beamer then told Whitaker he should transfer to play his final year of eligibility at another school.


"He said 'best thing for you to do is finish your degree and look to transfer,'" Whitaker said.


Whitaker left the meeting with Beamer in a tailspin. The following Thursday night Whitaker went downtown to Oge Chi's on Draper Road to let out some steam and have fun with some friends after the week's tumultuous events. He wasn't looking to get in to any trouble, he said, but he ended the night in handcuffs.


"Half the reason I was down there is because I was suspended. And I feel like I wasn't supposed to get suspended," Whitaker said. "I'm not selling drugs, shooting nobody, killing nobody, carrying guns; I'm not doing any of that. And for me to get suspended for missing a meeting is crazy."


Whitaker said the Blacksburg policemen who arrested him, including Officer Hayes, who was listed on the arrest record, knew he had been suspended.


"I don't think I was being wild (or) rude to anybody downtown," Whitaker said. "But I knew the cops know I was suspended. They were talking about it. I was talking to the cops, explaining to them how hurt I was that I had been suspended ... So I'm explaining to the cop that honestly I'm mad, I'm frustrated and the way I dealt with it was going downtown with some of my friends and trying to enjoy myself as much as possible. And then I got a drunk in public."


Whitaker has had trouble with alcohol in the past. Whitaker was arrested previously for public swearing/intoxication charges on March 1, 2006. He pleaded no contest, and was ordered to attend alcohol awareness classes, perform 25 hours of community service and pay Virginia Tech $420 for damaging a window.


In December 2006 Whitaker entered alcohol rehabilitation at the Mount Regis Center in Salem, Va. He missed the Chick-Fil-A Bowl that year while undergoing therapy at the rehab clinic.


Whitaker said he felt his punishment does not fit the missed meeting crime. Regardless, he said he blames only himself for his most recent arrest, but is holding out hope that after receiving his degree -- and transferring -- his horizons may begin to brighten.


"I thought, if anything, I'll have to do up-downs after practice but then I find out I'm suspended," Whitaker said. "There are multiple people who miss multiple meetings who are still on the team. And I just don't think from that standpoint I was treated fairly, I don't. And everybody is different, and everybody has different situations and I understand that. But suspending a young kid for missing a meeting I don't agree with, I just don't. It definitely sucks ... I hope it all works out. I know everything happens for a reason."

You might be interested in... Related Topics: football, drunk in public, ike whitaker
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 23 Anony, peace-loving individuals? Seriously? Where was I when the definition of a peace-loving idividual changed to: one who flies airplanes into large buildings; one who partakes in beheadings; or one who joins "clubs" to kill infidels? And in response to your prison comment, you are a complete idiot. While we do have the highest rate of citizens incarcerated, it is not even close to behing higher than the combined totals of every other country in the world. In fact, just combining Russia and England's rate would produce a total higher than America's. I really can't imagine someone with your mental capacity graduating from VT, so don't embarrass tech and call yourself and alumnus. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 16 Wow Anony. You sound like you just love it here. If it's sooo bad and you're that oppressed why not hit the road? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anony at Oct 16 Former Hokie 99: What is patriotic about paying respect to those that murder and kill innocent and otherwise peace-loving individuals in foreign countries? B/c I don't feel like waving the flag when I see we invade another country for pointless reasons with money we dont have, doesn't mean I am not patriotic. I see these events as detrimental to our society and country and hate to see the country I grew up in commit such terrible crimes. Dissent is the strongest form of patriotism. Actually, the U.S. locks up more of its own population than any other country in the world, COMBINED. I fail to see how we can justify ourselves as living in the" land of the free" when we have so many of our population sitting in jail. The reasons I am unwilling to become a soldier or a police officer is that I have respect in my fellow man-kind, something that soldiers and most officers do not have. Also, most other "former hokies" prefer to call ourselves alumni, it sounds better. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Hokie_97 at Oct 16 A VT football player arrested? My starts - what is the world coming to? Seriously, VT football players are a bunch of thugs. They're the main reason I don't give any money to my alma mater. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Former Hokie 99 at Oct 15 Whitaker has demonstrated a pattern of bad behavior. As a high profile person on campus (local celebrity), he gets extra attention, both positive and negative. He deserves to be let go based on his failure to see this and think of the team first. To Anony: "Cops and soldiers are thugs." You seem to have an extremely jaded view of those paid to protect people both here and abroad, whether they are citizens of our country or not. If you are so upset by the presence of those hired to do a job you appear not only unwilling but also unfit to perform, then I politely suggest you relocate to another country. That said, as a proud VT alumnus and long time member of our armed forces, I will gladly escort you to the country of your choosing. You are exactly the type of unpatriotic, self-righteous, know-nothing instigator that thinks the government is trying to "get you." It has no shackles on you; you aren't bound here. Do the rest of the country a favor and leave. Flag Abuse
Posted by: VT Police/SS at Oct 14 Anonymous, I don't even ride horses(joke for those pigs that didn't even go to NRCC and don't understand sarcasm.) I have multiple friends that have left their cars DT to walk home and been arrested for nothing more than walking home alone. The SS always fabricated a report justifying their actions citing that they were stumbling or even skipping(god forbid) to take them to jail. And breaking up a party with underage drinking? What a blessing...all those little heathens would have definately caused a problem those nights. Please research world alcohol age restrictions in regard to abuse. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 14 Whitaker is pursuing and completing a degree? Well, give him some props, he is at least ahead of the Vick brothers. The currently incarcerated Michael Vick is nonetheless _honored_ at Virginia Tech. Mixed up priorities there. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 13 I'm sure that everybody talking negatively about the Bburg police and VT police are those that have had bad encounters with them. I have never had a negative encounter with them, but I have been a first hand witness to some of the great things they have done. I have seen them break up a party with underage drinking, but it wasn't because they were out to ruin all the fun. And for the comment from the alum about NRCC, there is nothing wrong with there, and they don't even have to go there to become a police officer...Get off your high horse. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Fatteigh Pyg at Oct 13 Anonymous, could you please cite the incident where Vick actually shot at people...also, any article connecting the shooting at Macho's to anything relevent that could have been a precursor? Thanks. And yes, VT police are comparable to the SS to whoever wrote that below. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Sgt. Cokknuckles at Oct 12 The way I see it he was arrested for a good reason. I'm sure he would have killed himself and 100 others that night. We need to get all you violent criminals/college kids off the street ASAP! What do you think this is a college town? Get out of here. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 10 "Everything happens for a reason", ok...you got that right Ike! We don't want ya, we don't need ya. You're another in a looooooong line of dumbasses that has tarnished the University. You say proudly "I'm not selling drugs, shooting nobody, killing nobody, carrying guns; I'm not doing any of that." like somehow you're special for not doing those things...guess what? I don't sell crack (Ore) get shot at or shoot at people (Macho, Marcus Vick) or act like a jackass either...in fact, MOST PEOPLE DON'T. Good riddance...I'm sure we'll see you playing for a Junior College or in jail next year. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Joe at Oct 8 Stupid, stupid, stupid! It's good he got the boot. We don't need any more irresponsible fools on our team! Flag Abuse
Posted by: John at Oct 8 VT and Blacksburg Police are some of the most helpful and understanding cops you'll find in a college town. If you're arrested for drunk in public, or anything else regarding alcohol, it's because you're causing trouble. I've spent many years, and weekends in Blacksburg. I've been to hundreds of parties, all the bars, and most of the frats. Never have I had a problem with the police or witnessed an unjust action from the VT or Blacksburg police. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 8 @ SoberHokie Drunk in public does not imply driving. That is another story. If one is drunk and decides to walk home he is just making a responsible decision, and as long as he doesn't harass anybody or damage anything I don't see why he should be arrested. Flag Abuse
Posted by: SoberHokie at Oct 8 Y'all are amazing. Imagine driving home that night when somebody, minding their own business, stumbles out in front of you. You swerve to miss them, and run over an innocent bystander and kill them. Now tell me drunk in public is safe. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Hokie Pokie! at Oct 8 The guys blew a 0.33? Good lord -- what did he drink, a gallon of tequila? You halfwit Hokies are blaming the cops, but if you get yourself that completely obliterated, you can't even walk. The cops would have to work pretty hard to miss you. That said, if he wasn't already suspended, you can bet the cops wouldn't have arrested him. Just a quiet call to good ol' Frankie. Hokie cops don't bust Hokie players. That's the law, and that's the way we like it. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Alum at Oct 8 The VT police have always been out to get people. Current students just need to learn how to avoid them, because any encounter will most likely lead to arrest, sober or not. They couldn't get into anything but NRCC so now they are taking it out on you guys and krispy kremes. If they want respect, they could get it easily by cutting people breaks instead of screwing up their college careers. The VT police are more comparable to the SS than public servants. Flag Abuse
Posted by: anony at Oct 7 To the idiot who has to feel self righteous and protect the "innocent" officers for being portrayed in a negative light, get a clue. Cops and soldiers are thugs, cops bully americans and soldiers bully citizens of other countries. How can someone respect a soldier that occupies a foreign country and shoots at "terrorists" who are simply trying to defend their country from invasion? They are not serving our country or protecting our freedoms, quite the contrary. Flag Abuse
Posted by: anony at Oct 7 I personally have no respect for law enforcement. I used to but my own life experiences have changed my opinion of them. They serve no purpose other than to harass innocent civilians. I never talk to cops, ever. You have a right to remain silent. They are not your friends they are only there to make money off you. Blacksburg has so many cops its absurd. So they are out all over the place searching for "criminals" who don't come to full stops at empty intersections and flock students who appear to be drunk for the non crime of intoxication. I don't need a cop to tell me if Im drunk or not and it's my decision if I want to get drunk and wander around in public. Also, BAC doesn't have any bearing on the situation every person has their own tolerance. Flag Abuse
Posted by: tvres at Oct 7 A BAC of 0.33?! Those cops may have saved his life! Flag Abuse
Posted by: 911 is a Joke in Your Burg at Oct 7 If they were any good at their job, they would've be cops in B'burg. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 7 Drunk in public is just a nonsense. How many people arrested for this "crime" are actually harassing others or creating troubles? One should be arrested if he is an actual danger, not if he is a potential danger. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 7 I am personally offended that the ignorant trash who posted below me may call themselves Hokies. What a joke. Having no respect for law enforcement is almost as low as having no respect for soldiers. "Drunk in public is a non-crime" If it is a non-crime, how was he arrested for it? It is obviously a crime and has always been a crime. You have no idea what was going on at the time of the arrest. To make assumptions that the police are out to get the football players of the school they work at is absurd. Maybe you guys should stick to a sports forum. You can hang out with a bunch of idiots who will be on your level. "Grow up Ike, but F the Bburg PD. " You are telling the police to grow up for doing their job? God forbid they not let a football player off the hook. Someone else has some growing up to do too. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anon at Oct 7 Drunk in public is a non-crime, this is not a big deal. Cops in Blacksburg need to start doing their job, PROTECT and SERVE not arrest and harass. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at Oct 6 This is sad... I was hoping he had pulled it together. Flag Abuse
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