Cleveland Browns rookie wideout Antonio Callaway had a gun part and ammunition in his car when he was cited for marijuana possession and a suspended driver's license on Sunday, according to dash-camera footage obtained by multiple outlets Wednesday.
The footage showed an officer asking Callaway to step out of the car so he could search the vehicle after smelling marijuana. The officer allegedly found a small amount of marijuana under the driver's seat, as well as a backstrap for a Glock handgun and several bullets. The officer ordered Callaway to put his hands in the air and not move before patting down Callaway, who told the officer his gun is in Florida.
The officer later tells his partner that he "got real nervous" when he saw the gun strap and ammunition in the car. Callaway, who allowed officers to search the car, said the vehicle had recently been shipped from Florida to Cleveland and that others had been using it in Florida. He said he did not know there was marijuana in the car.
The presence of the strap and ammunition was not mentioned in the Strongsville (Ohio) Police report.
The citation came after Callaway was stopped at 2:59 a.m. on Sunday after he was seen failing to yield to oncoming traffic.
Cleveland.com reported Tuesday that Callaway -- who was promoted to a starting role with the trade of wideout Corey Coleman on Sunday evening -- did not inform the team of the citation after it happened. Head coach Hue Jackson called the news of the citation "surprising," but added he was "glad it's happening now" rather than during the regular season.
Callaway, 21, had a court appearance scheduled for Thursday morning, but Cleveland.com reports it has been rescheduled and he will travel with the team for their preseason opener against the New York Giants at MetLife (NYSE:MET) Stadium, which is Thursday night. Per the report, the team believes Callaway has "stayed clean" despite Sunday's incident.
A fourth-round pick in April's draft, Callaway has a history of off-field issues including a sexual-assault allegation in 2015, a marijuana citation in 2017, a suspension for the 2017 season at Florida for his involvement in a credit-card fraud scheme and a failed drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine in March.
That failed test placed him in Stage 1 of the league's drug program, and he could be subject to discipline after Sunday's incident.
--Field Level Media