Police Briefly Detain Two USC Players

USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett has a knack for being in the right place at the right time on the field.

But on Tuesday morning, a day after players moved out of a campus dormitory and into apartments, the All-American was in the wrong place, or rather the wrong car.

Jarrett and offensive lineman Thomas Herring were handcuffed briefly on campus after several Los Angeles Police Department vehicles descended upon a car they were in.

“When we got out of the car they just pulled up behind us,” Jarrett said. “I was like, ‘Oh boy. What’s going on?’ It was a shocker to me.”

Jarrett said the players had been walking to campus for a 9 a.m. practice when they accepted a ride from a woman whom he knew. According to Officer Sara Faden, the car had been involved in a crime.

The players were released at the scene and participated in practice. The driver was questioned at the Southwest Division station and released, Lt. Gregory Allen said.

“Not knowing what was going on was the scary thing about it,” said Herring, a redshirt freshman.

Coach Pete Carroll said he was in his office when “one of the players came up and said, ‘Coach, you better get out here.’ ”

Carroll addressed the situation with the team before the morning practice and, after the afternoon workout, said he would do so again during meetings Tuesday night.

“All these moments are teachable moments,” Carroll said.

Jarrett said he was happy the incident was over.

“I’m usually careful about things like that: If I don’t know the person or if I don’t know a situation, I won’t put myself in that situation,” he said. “This time, it was something completely innocent.”

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.