VERNON — A total of three members of UConn’s 2019 football team have been arrested in connection with the burglary of a campus dormitory Nov. 23, an incident in which police say the players took more than $5,000 worth of items.
Cornerback Ryan Carroll turned himself in to UConn police on Saturday. Running back Khyon Gillespie and safety Oneil Robinson turned themselves in last week.
All three face burglary and larceny charges, though Carroll’s charges are slightly more serious. He was charged with two felonies, burglary in the third degree and larceny in the third degree. Both Gillespie and Robinson are facing charges of burglary in the third degree and larceny in the sixth degree. All three are charged with making false statements to police as well.
Gillespie was scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Tuesday but his case was continued to March 2. Carroll, who was released on a $2,500 non-surety bond Saturday, is slated to appear Feb. 26.
After the alleged crime but before they were arrested, Carroll and Robinson announced plans to transfer from UConn and play football for another school. Gillespie practiced with his teammates earlier this month during their “spring practices” but was suspended indefinitely by UConn coach Randy Edsall after news of his arrest became public.
According to police warrant affidavits, much of which stem from Carroll’s statements to authorities Dec. 12, Carroll was “smacking” door knobs in Wilson Hall on the UConn campus on the evening of Nov. 23 — the Huskies lost to East Carolina at home that afternoon — and found that one door was unlocked. After returning to his room, Carroll told his roommates Gillespie and Robinson that they “could run up in there,” an affidavit said.
All three men returned to the unlocked room and took a number of items, police said: Carroll a pair of Adidas Yeezy500 shoes, a black leopard Supreme jacket, a black Supreme bag, a pair of Nike shoes, and a PlayStation 4 console; Robinson took a PlayStation 4 controller and a black Supreme hoodie; and Gillespie took a Nintendo Switch. Carroll then returned to take a TV from the common area of the dorm, according to the affidavit.
One of the residents of the room reported to police that his items were missing and presumed stolen late on Nov. 23. UConn police were able to track the signal of the missing Nintendo Switch gaming system via the university’s wireless network two days later. Police say they found the system was “active” inside the room of the three players on the evening of Nov. 24.
UConn police officers came to the dorm in which Carroll, Gillespie and Robinson lives on Nov. 25 and all denied being involved.
Gillespie later provided a sworn statement to police that he had bought the Switch from an unidentified white male on campus for $50 Nov. 24. He returned to the UConn police department Dec. 5 to admit he had lied and simply said “whatever came to my mind.”