ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 4, 1997 TAG: 9704040044
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA THE ROANOKE TIMES
A tight end with an apparent dislike for car windows is the policy's first victim.
University athletic officials dismissed a Virginia Tech football player from the team Thursday after he was accused of kicking out a rear window of a police cruiser Wednesday night.
Blacksburg police arrested Pedro Edison, 21, on two counts of destruction of property and one count of obstruction of justice. Each charge is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum punishment of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Edison already was scheduled to begin serving a four-month jail sentence May 10 for a reckless driving conviction imposed March 18 in Staunton Circuit Court.
Edison was speeding in June 1996 when he lost control of his car and crashed, killing a passenger. Edison originally faced a felony involuntary manslaughter charge, which was reduced as part of a plea agreement.
Blacksburg police arrested Edison, a redshirt freshman tight end from Harrisonburg, at University Terrace apartments close to midnight. Witnesses told police they saw Edison use his foot to shatter a car windshield.
Police said Edison resisted when they attempted to arrest him. Officers used pepper spray to subdue the nearly 250-pound man and placed him in the back seat of a police car.
Within minutes, police said, Edison kicked out a rear window of the cruiser. Damages were estimated at $100 to the police car and $500 to the other car.
A rash of criminal charges against football players during the last two years prompted the university to pass a new disciplinary policy Feb.24 under which all athletes convicted of a misdemeanor charge will face a review process directed by Athletic Director Dave Braine. Punishment, under the policy, is to range from a warning to dismissal.
Edison is the first athlete to be disciplined under the new policy, and head coach Frank Beamer and Braine decided to take swift action, according to university spokesman Larry Hincker.
Athletic officials at Tech would not comment about Edison's dismissal except through a prepared statement.
In the statement, Beamer said, "This type of conduct will not be condoned by me, the athletic director or the university."
Because Edison will not be on the team, his athletic scholarship will not be renewed, Hincker said. He did not know if Edison, who was in his second academic year, would continue his education at the university next year.
"That will be up to him," Hincker said.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Edisonby CNB