Former USF football player Terrence Mitchell arrested again

TAMPA -- Former Hillsborough and USF football player Terrence Mitchell was arrested early Tuesday morning and now faces three misdemeanor charges, including driving under the influence and assault.

Mitchell, 22, was suspended from USF by coach Willie Taggart after a March arrest on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana, for which he had entered into a pre-trial diversionary program. That agreement could be affected by Tuesday's charges. Mitchell was expected to transfer to Fort Hays State, but did not enroll for fall classes.

According to the arrest report, Tampa Police found Mitchell at 1:26 a.m. about a mile from USF's campus, near Busch Gardens, and he was "passed out in the driver seat of a vehicle that was running and in drive while facing the wrong way," west in an eastbound lane. He "emitted the distinct odor of alcoholic beverage," had red, watery eyes and slurred his speech, according to the report.

While being evaluated by Tampa Fire Rescue personnel, Mitchell "became agitated," according to the report, and "twice attempted to bite an EMT (against the will of the EMT)." The report states that after being read his rights, Mitchell admitted to police that he had consumed alcoholic beverages, was feeling its effects and "that he should not have been on the road."

His arrest and suspension this spring derailed a once-promising football career. Mitchell was a Freshman All-America as a punt returner, and after missing most of 2011 with a severe concussion, was USF's No. 2 receiver in 2012. Taggart had intended to move him to cornerback before his suspension.

Mitchell was charged Tuesday with DUI with a blood-alcohol level higher than 0.15 after registering a 0.171 and 0.165 according to arrest reports, both more than double the level at which a driver is deemed too impaired to drive safely. He was also charged with assault on a firefighter/EMT and driving with a suspended license with knowledge, also misdemeanors. He was booked at 3:37 a.m. and remained in county jail at 10 a.m. Tuesday, held on $1,250 bond.