A former standout Emanuel County Institute football player who signed briefly with the NFL Baltimore Ravens was arrested by Register police after they said a large amount of marijuana, a stolen gun and other drugs were found in his car.
Charles Dexter Moody, 24, of Twin City, was driving through the small Bulloch County town about 1 a.m. Friday when an officer spotted him dimming his headlights and noticed he had a headlight out, said Chief Tom Kile.
Lt. Terry Kile pulled Moody over, and noticed the occupants "throwing several objects from their vehicle," he said. Upon stopping the car, Lt. Kile noticed a string odor of marijuana, and placed the driver, Moody, under arrest.
The passenger, who has not yet been identified, fled on foot, he said. Chief Kile said Wednesday the passenger has not been identified or apprehended, as Moody has not been cooperative in providing information.
Moody played as a linebacker on ECI's state championship football team in 2007, scoring a touchdown on a 20-yard fumble return in the title-winning game. He played safety in college at Albany (Ga.) State and was signed as an undrafted rookie by the Ravens in May 2014. He was cut by the Ravens two months later on July 18, 2014.
There is no record of Moody signing with another NFL team.
Lt. Kile said he searched the vehicle and found "three large bags of marijuana, a set of scales, a stolen .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, loaded, and a plastic bag containing what appeared to be Xanax."
Chief Kile said Wednesday the paraphernalia included ‘wraps," used to construct marijuana cigarettes, or joints, and that the handgun was determined to have been stolen during a burglary in Swainsboro.
Moody is charged with defective headlights, possession of drug related objects, marijuana possession, theft by receiving stolen property (firearm), marijuana possession with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of Xanax with intent to distribute, he said.
According to Bulloch County Jail records, Moody was released Tuesday on a $10,000 bond.
Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.