Browns’ Draft Choice Arrested on Cocaine, Weapons Charges

University of Miami All-Ameri- can tight end Willie Smith, the 10th-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, was arrested early Monday morning in a motel parking lot on cocaine and weapons charges, police in Miami said.

Smith, 22, was taken to the Dade County Jail. He was released on $10,000 bond Monday night, booking officer Cpl. Mark Stich said.

Jim Hutton, a Metro-Dade police spokesman, said the football star was arrested after a woman called police to a parking lot near the university campus, claiming that a man was chasing her.

The woman, identified as Denise Gray, told police she had dropped her purse during the chase and the man had picked it up.

Hutton said police checked the parking lot and found Smith sitting in a car with what appeared to be a plastic bag containing cocaine. On the car seat beside him, the officers saw the handle of a pistol, Hutton said.

Smith was arrested on cocaine and weapons charges and then police found the purse the woman allegedly lost, Hutton said. It contained a straw with cocaine residue on it. Gray was arrested on a charge of possession of cocaine, he said.

After two seasons at Miami, Smith held the school record with 114 pass receptions and ranked third all-time in yardage with 1,521.

He gave up his last year of college eligibility to make himself available in this year’s NFL draft.