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Baylor forward arrested on charge of theft under $500

Rico Gathers

Rico Gathers

AP

Wednesday afternoon it was reported by the Waco Tribune-Herald that Baylor rising senior forward Rico Gathers Sr. was arrested on a charge of theft under $500 following an shoplifting incident at a Waco Walmart June 1. According to the story Gathers shoplifted items from the store, and following the incident an employee provided law enforcement with video of Gathers leaving the store.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, with Gathers turning himself in and posting $1,000 bond.

A store employee told police that a man he recognized as Gathers placed two pillows, a tote bag, a water dispenser and a trash can in a shopping cart and left the store without stopping to pay for the items, according to an arrest affidavit.

The employee provided police with video from the incident two days later, telling police the items were valued at $171, the affidavit said.

Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said store employees had suspected Gathers of stealing items during previous visits to the store.


Gathers, who averaged 11.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game as a junior, was a first team All-Big 12 selection and was also named to the conference’s all-defensive team. Gathers finished the season with 16 double-doubles, a mark that led the Big 12 and ranked among the best in the country.

According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, Baylor head coach Scott Drew released a statement Wednesday that the program was still in the process of “gathering the facts” regarding the arrest and would have no further comment at that time.