Former Cowboy Michael Irvin Arrested

P L A N O, Texas, Aug. 10 -- Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver MichaelIrvin was arrested Wednesday on a misdemeanor drug charge.

Irvin was taken into custody on a charge of possession of lessthan 2 ounces of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, said PlanoPolice Department Sgt. Mark Hunt.

He was taken to Plano City Jail at about 6 p.m. and was releasedat 9:20 p.m.

Part of a Regional Sweep

Officers from a multi-level drug task force went to theapartment to arrest a woman for heroin trafficking as part of aregional sweep, said Lori Bailey, an FBI spokeswoman.

The woman named in the warrant had not been located and Irvinwas not a target of the probe.

“This is total happenstance. We had no prior knowledge he wasgoing to be in there,” Bailey said.

The woman named in the warrant was not home, but another womanat the apartment, 21-year-old Nelly Adham—described as a friendof Irvin’s—was taken into custody, Hunt said.

“I really don’t know what went on. I was visiting somebody andthe police came looking for somebody else and I was in the house,”Irvin told reporters after his lawyer signed paperwork for hisrelease.

“They tore the house up and they found I guess what you wouldcall a roach, a half a joint, and that’s why I got arrested,” hesaid.

Car Searched

Irvin, 34, said police found “nothing on me ... They impoundedmy car, they searched my car, and they found nothing in my car.That’s all I gotta say.” Irvin then departed in a sport-utilityvehicle.

Maximum punishment on a Class B misdemeanor is a $2,000 fine and180 days in jail.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he would reserve comment until heknew more details, noting that in late 1996 Irvin was falselyaccused of sexual assault. That claim came five months after Irvinpleaded no contest to felony drug charges.

“I would remind us all that Michael has been a victim of falseallegations before,” Jones said from training camp in WichitaFalls. “I know this: I’m going to be very sensitive, very carefulhow I come to any conclusions.”