Posted: Apr 17, 2020 / 11:50 AM EDT
/ Updated: Apr 17, 2020 / 11:58 AM EDT

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A former West Virginia University men’s basketball player and another man are facing charges after a call about a woman being held hostage lead sheriff’s deputies to find drugs in a home.

On April 16, deputies with the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for a welfare check at a residence at 536 Independence Hills Village in Morgantown in reference to an advisory that a female was being held hostage at that address over an argument about a rental car, according to a criminal complaint.

When deputies arrived on scene, they made contact with Aaric Murray, 30, and Richard Johnson, 23, both of Morgantown, who invited them into the residence and Murray and Johnson informed deputies they had no knowledge of the female being held hostage, deputies said.

Both men allowed deputies to search the residence to make sure the female wasn’t there, and during the search, deputies said they found a bag of crack rock cocaine, a bag of marijuana, cutting agents and drug packaging materials.

Upon a search of Murray’s person, deputies found $6,415 in U.S. currency, which he said he won from gambling at a local hotspot, but had no vouchers to prove this and “none of the hotspots in town are open due to the pandemic,” according to the complaint.

Deputies then took Murray into custody as a result of capias warrants he had against him; deputies searched Johnson and found him in possession of $2,768 in U.S. currency, as well as a “small amount of controlled substances” and taken into custody, deputies said.

A search warrant was later obtained for the residence and during the search, deputies said they found approximately 5 grams of crack rock cocaine, three grams of marijuana, an eighth of a gram of heroin, packaging materials, cutting agents, a set of digital scales, $100 in U.S. currency, four handguns, multiple ledgers and several cell phones.

During an interview, Johnson admitted that his only form of income is $600 a month for disability, according to the complaint.

Johnson has been charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He is being held in North Central Regional Jail on $20,012 bond.

Murray has been charged as a result of the capias warrants against him. He is being held in North Central Regional Jail. Murray was a center on the WVU basketball team in 2013, after transferring from LaSalle University. After the 2013 season, Murray transferred to Texas Southern University.

Posted: Aug 8, 2019 / 04:28 PM EDT / Updated: Aug 8, 2019 / 09:19 PM EDT

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) – A West Virginia University football player is facing three misdemeanor charges following his arrest late last month. Jovani Haskins, a redshirt junior tight end, was arrested after a police chase in Morgantown.

On July 28th, 2019 officers with WVU Police observed a white Audi A4 driving at a high speed and almost hitting another vehicle in the turning lane on University Avenue and Campus Avenue, according to a criminal complaint.

After police signaled for the Audi to stop by turning on their cruiser’s emergency lights and siren, it continued to speed and cross the center line multiple times, police said. Another cruiser also noticed the Audi on University Avenue, according to the complaint.

The Audi then got stuck in traffic and had to turn down Ensign Avenue, where its driver parked in the Metro Towers parking area and ran off, according to the complaint.

Police said they were able to cross-reference the vehicle’s registration through WVU Parking, which showed the Audi had citations under the name of Jovanni Hoskins, 21, of Bergenfield, New Jersey.

Hoskins matched the fleeing suspect’s description, and while conducting a tow inventory, police found his WVU student identification card in the vehicle, according to the complaint.

Hoskins is charged with obstructing/fleeing, reckless driving and left of center.

Hoskins, who transferred from the University of Miami, is expected to have an increased role in the WVU offense this season, following the graduation of tight end Trevon Wesco, who was drafted by the New York Jets.

WVU head football coach Neal Brown issued the following statement on the situation:

“We are aware of the situation, and it will be handled appropriately and in accordance with West Virginia University’s policies and procedures surrounding student conduct.”