Four MU student-athletes arrested

Four University of Missouri athletes were arrested Saturday night in Columbia following a traffic stop for expired Alabama license plates.

Freshman basketball players Shane Rector and Wes Clark were arrested for possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana. Redshirt freshman football player Shaun Rupert and sophomore corner Aarion Penton were also arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Frank Haith said the two guards are suspended indefinitely.

“I have spoken to those guys once, ” Haith said on Monday. “(I) will speak with them again until we know the status of them being on our team.”

Rupert was driving the vehicle when officers pulled him over for expired tags. Columbia police say the arresting officers smelled a strong marijuana odor. After a search, they found a Swisher Sweets package in the vehicle. After a field test, the product tested positive for marijuana. Police then arrested the four athletes. They were issued a summons, then released.

Haith added the two guards are not practicing with the team and is still gathering more information.

If Clark and Rector do not play, that leaves Missouri with no back-up guards to Jordan Clarkson, Jabari Brown and Earnest Ross. Haith said on Sunday Tony Criswell will likely not play in the NIT. Criswell recently lost a civil court case for not paying rent on time. Guard Corey Haith is out with a season-ending injury. Tony Criswell, Keanau Post and Danny Feldman would be the only players available.

Missouri basketball plays Davidson on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.

A Missouri football spokesperson said Penton and Rupert were “suspended immediately per athletic policy, pending internal review.”

Rupert is a reserve defensive back for the team while Penton is listed as a starter on the spring depth chart.

Rupert was driving the car at the time of the stop. Penton was sitting in the front seat while Clark and Rector were in the back seat.