LSU suspends Taylor after arrest
Ga. police link LB to burglary
BATON ROUGE — LSU suspended sophomore Tyler Taylor on Wednesday after learning that the linebacker was arrested for allegedly being the getaway driver in the burglary of firearms from a pawn shop in his home state of Georgia.
Taylor’s attorney, Peter Zeliff, told The Advocate on Thursday that his client intended to plead not guilty to the three felony counts.
The Advocate was the first media outlet to report the arrest.
A Cumming Police Department report shows the incident occurred on Jan. 8.
The 19-year-old Taylor, who is from Buford, was arrested on May 31. He refused to speak with police and requested an attorney. He spent five hours in jail before posting $33,550 bond, according to Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office booking records.
He’s accused of three felonies — conspiracy to commit a crime, party to a crime and theft by receiving stolen property — which is an automatic suspension for LSU student-athletes under school policy.
Court records show Taylor has not been charged by the Forsyth County District Attorney. No court date has been set.
The police report showed Taylor’s cellphone was “pinged at the pawn shop on the morning of the burglary.” According to the report, one of the other three suspects told police that Taylor was involved.
Police also retrieved surveillance video of the burglary that showed the suspects shattering the front door to get into the pawn shop and later running away from the shop.
The report listed 12 guns — eight shotguns, a semi-automatic rifle and three rifles — were stolen. Records show police recovered some of the weapons.
Motor vehicle records show that Taylor’s mother, Akita Taylor, owns the 2016 Ford F150 truck that was used in the burglary.
“Taylor did not get out of the vehicle and assist in breaking into the pawn shop, but did drive all parties to the location and drove all parties away after the burglary had been committed,” according to the police report. “Taylor, when spoken to, chose not to speak to law enforcement and wanted to seek legal representation.”
The 6-foot-2, 242-pound Taylor, started five games and played in all 13 as a freshman. He was battling fellow sophomore Jacob Phillips for the starting inside linebacker spot next to preseason all-American Devin White.
Last week LSU indefinitely suspended sophomore starting right guard Ed Ingram for violating unspecified team rules.
Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, right, sprints past LSU’s Tyler Taylor during a Sept. 16, 2017, game in Starkville, Miss. LSU suspended Taylor indefinitely after learning the sophomore linebacker was arrested in May in his home state of Georgia for his alleged role in a burglary. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)