Arrested USC Football Player Had Been Out on Bail

When USC redshirt freshman cornerback Marcel Brown was arrested in connection with robberies and attacks in Westwood Village and Redondo Beach last week, he was out on bail for similar incidents in San Diego.

Brown and Garlyn Coleman, who Monday were charged with felony counts of robbery, kidnaping and assault in connection with three attacks April 23, were arrested for robbing pedestrians in Point Loma and Clairemont, San Diego Police Detective Rick Shaw said. They will be arraigned Thursday in San Diego Superior Court.

Brown and Coleman, both of San Diego, pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in West Los Angeles Municipal Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing was set for May 10. Brown and Coleman are being held on $100,000 bail in Los Angeles County Jail.

Howard McCowan, a USC redshirt freshman free safety from Carson, will face the same charges as the other men, said Katherine Mader, a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney. McCowan, who was freed on $10,000 bond, will be arraigned within a week.

The three were arrested after Torrance police officers caught them with automatic teller machine (ATM) cards and about $460 in cash. They allegedly beat and robbed their victims.

Brown and McCowan were indefinitely suspended from the USC football team by Coach Larry Smith last Wednesday. Coleman does not attend USC. Brown played mostly on special teams last year. McCowan started two games at free safety.

USC officials said they had been unaware of Brown’s arrest in San Diego. “We did not know of and never were told of any other charges,” Smith said in a statement.

Smith and Athletic Director Mike McGee met with the football team Friday to discuss the latest off-field problem. Tim Tessalone, an athletic department spokesman, said Smith and McGee told the players that “these embarrassments will cease. There will be no more second chances.”