Crime Blotter

The same day nine USC students were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication during an event some are describing as a riot (reports are that 1,000-2,000 were involved), O.J. Mayo's dad was arrested for "possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver."

Ben Bolch will have a story up about Mayo's dad shortly.

There are a lot of rumors about the "riot" at USC, but eight years ago this would have been called a typical Thursday night, with no need for riot gear. That's just my gut feeling after seeing some limited video footage on YouTube (warning: expletives used at the end). Another difference? A few years ago, people wouldn't ask for trouble by posting parties on social networking sites like Facebook (that was apparently behind last night's events, and also led to a USC fraternity getting the ax for a party on 4-20 last year).

On the topic of crime (or at least criminally inept), we haven't said much yet about the Lane Kiffin vs. Al Davis feud (if you haven't heard about it, the San Francisco Chronicle's Ray Ratto has a great take on the situation). This is a PR debacle for both former Trojan coaches, but far worse for Davis. Angelenos already consider him a criminal for stealing pro football from L.A., and then there are his frequent crimes against fashion.

Comments

[Gerrrg]

You know this isn't going to go over very well...Mayo's dad being caught. The problem is, that there is going to be the expectation that Mayo's involvement with maui gold in high school was not a misjudgement by a young person, but a representation of his father's influence.

And OJ will have to defend his father in public as well as come under greater scrutiny by the NCAA.

Not a good situation to be in for OJ, and that's an awful shame.

[Chad Hernandez]

Here is video footage of the "riot" taken by someone who was on the frontlines..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kjI2ZySoznM

[pk-in-the-mesa]

rEALLY WHAT IS THE POINT IN HAMMERING THIS KID ABOUT HIS FATHER, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF THAT HAPPEN TO YOU