COLUMBIA — Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team policies. The suspension was a joint decision by Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel and athletics director Mike Alden.
"It's unfortunate, but it's the right thing to do for our football program, for the athletic department, and also for Dorial," Pinkel said in a news release. "We have high standards related to the expectations that come along with being a Missouri Tiger, and Dorial has not met those recently."
Missouri athletics officials have not confirmed the specific reason for Green-Beckham's latest suspension, other than to say he violated team policies.
Columbia Police sergeant Joe Bernhard said Monday morning that Green-Beckham was not arrested over the weekend, but according to residents at Brookside Townhomes, Green-Beckham was involved in an incident there sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. Sunday.
The Kansas City Star reported later Monday that
"Green-Beckham is part of an ongoing investigation by Columbia Police, according to Sgt. Joe Bernhard, but has not been arrested."
The only incident from Brookside Townhomes reported to the Columbia police within this time period is a burglary at 2:36 a.m. Sunday.
Missouri sophomore and Brookside resident Chris Connor said he heard shouting from the apartment unit next to his.
Connor's roommate Mike Henke said he saw a white Dodge Charger speed away and a girl hitting it as it drove away.
“After (Green-Beckham) drove away, his teammates were yelling at us to not call the cops,” Connor said. “They were like, 'Dude, come on. Just don’t call the cops.’"
The people outside the apartment did call the police, and police arrived to the scene 15 minutes later, Connor said.
Green-Beckham, the former No. 1 recruit in the nation, led Missouri with 59 receptions and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. He scored a school single-game record four touchdowns against Kentucky
This is the second time Green-Beckham has been suspended in his career. He was suspended for one game in 2012 during his freshman season after being arrested on
suspicion of marijuana possession. The charges were later dropped.
Green-Beckham had another marijuana-related arrest in January, just slightly more than a week after Missouri beat Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. Green-Beckham
was arrested Jan. 10 when he and two other men were stopped for a traffic violation in Springfield, Green-Beckham's hometown. The police officer noticed the odor of marijuana and found approximately one pound of marijuana in the car, the police report said. All three men were released without bail.
Green-Beckham has not been made available for interviews throughout spring practice at the request of his family while his legal situation is being sorted out.
"It's been disappointing to have this and other issues which have taken place lately," Pinkel said. "It's frustrating because we work very hard to instill responsibility and discipline in our young men, so that our program represents Mizzou the right way. These actions aren't representative of those expectations, and we are addressing these issues head-on."
Green-Beckham's suspension includes all team practices and activities, but he will have access to the academic support center during his suspension, according to the release.