Two Titans Suspended After Arrest : Fullerton: Freshman basketball players Vernon and Bloodworth charged in connection with the use of stolen credit cards.

One of Cal State Fullerton’s most promising freshman basketball players has been suspended from the team after he and a teammate were arrested in connection with the theft of a student’s car and the illegal use of stolen credit cards, campus police said Friday.

Greg Vernon, who has been the Titans’ first guard off the bench, and seldom-used reserve Michael Bloodworth, both 18, were arrested Wednesday after they allegedly tried to make a purchase at the Sears store in the Buena Park Mall, Cal State Fullerton Police Chief Daniel Byrnes said.

In addition, Fullerton College student Gene Davis, also 18, was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, Byrnes said.

The Titan athletes were suspended pending the outcome of an investigation, said Steve DiTolla, who was named Fullerton interim athletic director Thursday.

“I’ve talked to Dan Byrnes, but I can’t say what will happen until after the investigation,” DiTolla said.

DiTolla said he also was concerned about how the incident would impact the department as it embarks on a $2.3-million fund-raising campaign.

“Anything negative from a publicity standpoint has a tremendous effect on our ability to generate revenue,” DiTolla said. “It was the same thing with the football incident last year. That had an effect.”

Two Titan football players were arrested last April for their involvement in a brawl with an off-duty police officer outside a Fullerton nightclub.

Fullerton basketball Coach John Sneed said he spoke to Vernon on Friday but would not disclose contents of the discussion.

A Cal State Fullerton student reported Tuesday that her Honda CRX was stolen from a campus parking lot, Byrnes said. In the car was, among other things, a purse containing charge cards from Sears and Nordstrom.

Byrnes said that after Davis allegedly stole the car, he handed the charge cards and car keys to Vernon and Bloodworth.

“They took it (the car) for a joy ride and used one of the charge cards to make some purchases,” Byrnes said.

A television set and a videocassette recorder were purchased Wednesday with the Sears charge card at the Brea Mall, Byrnes said.

Later that night, Vernon and Bloodworth went to the Buena Park Mall, where they tried to use the Sears card again. This time, a store clerk noticed the stolen card.

When store security was called, Bloodworth reportedly fled and Vernon was taken into custody, Byrnes said.

Vernon was first booked at Buena Park Police Department and later turned over to university police investigating the incident.

Bloodworth and Davis were arrested Thursday. All three were taken to Orange County Central Jail and released on bail, Byrnes said.

Davis was charged with auto theft, Byrnes said. Bloodworth was charged with auto theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. Vernon faces charges of credit card forgery, possession of stolen property, burglary and receiving stolen property.