Huskies suspend transfer running back

  • By Mike Allende / Herald Writer
  • Tuesday, October 24, 2006 9:00pm
  • Sports

SEATTLE – University of Washington sophomore running back Michael Houston has been suspended from the team indefinitely for a violation of team policy, coach Tyrone Willingham and athletic director Todd Turner announced Tuesday.

According to a police report, Houston was arrested on suspicion of auto theft Sunday morning. He will appear in a Seattle courtroom today for a bail hearing.

Houston transferred to Washington from the University of Texas in August. He was redshirting this season.

According to the police report, Houston and three other people caught an Orange Cab early Sunday morning at a strip club on Bothell Way Northeast, in the Lake City area of North Seattle. The cab drove the group to a fast food restaurant at which point one member of the party spit on a window of the cab. When the driver got out of the car to call 911 on his cell phone, Houston moved from the back seat to the front and drove away, the police report alleges.

Police found the car parked on Lake City Way and they saw Houston exit the cab, at which point he was arrested. He was booked into the King County Jail at 4:54 Sunday morning and released Monday night at 8:10 p.m.

Houston had three carries for 27 yards as a true freshman at Texas last season before transferring to Washington. When interviewed in August, Houston said he hoped to find a school where he could gain more playing time. He was expected to compete for the starting job next season with Louis Rankin and J.R. Hasty.

A press released from the UW said Houston’s status will be re-evaluated following an investigation into the incident.

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