Senior Dietric Slater, a starting player for the Mississippi State men’s basketball team, was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor on March 14.According to a report from the Starkville Daily News, Slater was pulled over that afternoon for not wearing his seat belt.
Starkville Police Department officers then charged Slater with driving under a suspended license and possession of a controlled substance Xanax, an anti-anxiety prescription drug. Slater did not go to jail and posted a $1,040.50 bond immediately after arriving at Starkville City Hall.
Slater told The Clarion-Ledger that he was in the process of having his license reinstated when he was pulled over.
Slater also said that he was driving his godmother’s car when he was pulled over and that the Xanax pills belonged to her. He said she showed officials proof that the pills were her prescription.
The Xanax Web site said the drug is used to treat anxiety and panic attacks, as well as some anxiety problems caused by depression.
Student Health Center pharmacist Shannon Barrett said that Xanax is intended to calm a person down. It could cause drowsiness and light-headedness but affects people differently, Barrett said.
Men’s basketball coach Rick Stansbury told The Clarion-Ledger that overall, Slater only has the charge for not wearing a seat belt.
Starkville Police Department Chief David Lindley could not be reached for confirmation of the two dropped charges and details of the incident.
Neither Stansbury nor Slater were available for further comments.
Slater, one of two seniors on the basketball team, plays guard and forward. He has played in all three National Invitational Tournament conference games and is one of the team’s top scorers.