RENTON — Golden Tate got off with a warning.
A delicious, maple-covered warning.
Bellevue Police were called early Saturday morning to Top Pot Doughnut shop when a baker observed two people in the closed store, one of whom, it turned out, was the Seahawks rookie receiver.
Tate was given a warning for trespassing, and not arrested or ticketed. So just what were Tate and his friend doing in a doughnut shop at 3 a.m.?
“They’re irresistible,” Tate said of the maple bars he and a friend pilfered for a late-night snack. “It was a foolish mistake that won’t happen again, but if you ever want some maple bars, that’s the place to go.”
Just not at 3 a.m.
According to Carla Iafrate, Bellevue Police’s’s public information officer, officers were called to the scene by a Top Pot employee, and by the time they arrived, the maple bar bandits, who entered through an unlocked door, were gone.
Tate later returned with a set of keys that had gone missing, Iafrate said, noting that it was not known who took the keys. Iafrate said in cases like this, “It’s up to the owner of the business that the crime occurred in” to decide if they want to press charges.
Top Pot, which recently signed a deal to provide doughnuts and coffee at Qwest Field, decided not to pursue the matter further in regards to Tate, who lives in the building where the incident occurred and is a regular at the store.
While Tate won’t face criminal charges, he was clearly embarrassed by the attention he received for the incident after the team’s practice Tuesday.
“I’m very embarrassed to even have my name a part of this,” he said. “Before now I’ve never had any type of trouble in school or anything.”
And while this probably wasn’t what the Seahawks had in mind when they said they thought Tate could be the steal of the draft as the 60th overall pick, Seattle coach Pete Carroll didn’t seem too upset about the doughnut heist.
“No, I’m not disappointed about a guy being in a doughnut shop when they’ve got maple bars like Top Pot has,” Carroll said. “However, under the circumstances, I think they were closed, that’s definitely wrong. We’ve talked about it and addressed it, and he’s most remorseful about it. I do understand the allure of the maple bars.”
Carroll vague on White
Tuesday’s practice was the first open to the media since the team decided to part ways with running back LenDale White just five weeks after acquiring him in a draft-day trade with Tennessee.
Pete Carroll said that things didn’t work out with White, but did not give any details as to why the team waived the former USC standout so soon after trading for him.
“It was just time to move ahead,” Carroll said. “I think he needs to go somewhere else and find a spot, and it wasn’t going to be here. That’s it.”
Hill update
Linebacker Leroy Hill continues to be kept away from the team since his April arrest for domestic violence. Carroll said there is nothing new to report, but that resolution may be coming soon. As for all of the practice time Hill has missed?
“Well if that didn’t matter, why would you practice?” Carroll said. “Practice is hugely important. There’s a new system, there’s a whole new approach to doing things. This certainly hinders his opportunity without question. The other guys have rocketed ahead with their chances and taken advantage of that, and that’s just part of the competition. You do what you can with your opportunities. So he’s going to have to battle back if we can get him back out here. We’ll see when the time comes.”
Of note
DT Kevin Vickerson, who was acquired in the trade with Tennessee that also brought White to Seattle was able to participate in Tuesday’s practice. Vickerson sat out earlier workouts since the trade because of a groin injury. … WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who is recovering from sports hernia surgery, took to the field after practice to catch a few passes, though not at full speed. Fellow receiver Deion Branch (knee) continues to be out while recovering from surgery.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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