MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Rattlers coach Todd Shell was arrested early Tuesday and admitted he had been snorting cocaine, police said.
The 43-year-old Shell, a former BYU linebacker who helped the San Francisco 49ers win two Super Bowls in the early 1980s, was spotted about 1 a.m. by an officer doing a routine check behind a strip of businesses in Mesa.
"(Shell) originally said he owned the business, then said he had stopped behind the business to do the cocaine," Mesa police Detective Tim Gaffney said.
About an eighth of an ounce of a white powder and a straw were found in Shell's pockets, Gaffney said. The substance was taken to a crime laboratory for analysis. After authorities get the results, Shell could face drug charges.
During questioning, Shell looked off toward a tree, Gaffney said.
"He said there was a man in the tree wearing camouflage," Gaffney said.
Police searched the area and found no one.
Shell was taken into custody on an arrest warrant for probation violation in the nearby town of Gilbert. Court records showed Shell was arrested for extreme drunken driving on Dec. 27, 2003. Shell was taken to Gilbert, where he was released after posting $1,000 bond, Gaffney said.
The Rattlers were 7-9 last season, Shell's first as the team's head coach.
Team general manager and vice president Gene Nudo did not return a telephone message. He told The Arizona Republic that he was surprised by the arrest.
"We're going to deal with the situation accordingly once we know all the facts," Nudo said. "It wouldn't be appropriate to comment beyond that."
The arrest occurred near Shell's home. He grew up in Mesa and was a high school football star there.
Shell coached the AFL's San Jose SaberCats from 1995-98. He returned to coaching in 2003, taking over the New York Dragons after John Gregory was fired following an 0-4 start. The team went 8-4 the rest of the way and Shell was selected the league's coach of the year. New York went 9-7 under Shell in 2004.
At Arizona, he replaced longtime Rattlers coach Danny White.