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Former Buff Jordon Dizon charged with DUI
Star linebacker drafted by Lions six days after arrest
BUFFS IN TROUBLE
At least eight current or former University of Colorado football players have had legal trouble in the past six months:
Kai Maiava, a former sophomore fullback, was ticketed June 19 for underage possession and consumption of alcohol.
Nate Vaiomounga, sophomore outside linebacker, was charged with criminal mischief under $500 on June 19 after police said he broke a window in a residence hall. He also was charged Feb. 16 with underage possession and consumption of alcohol.
Lynn Katoa, freshman linebacker, is suspected of assaulting a student at an off-campus party Feb. 16.
Riar Geer, a junior tight end, is accused of assaulting two 19-year-old men outside an off-campus party March 14.
Jake Duren, a former junior linebacker, was kicked off the team in April following an arrest for allegedly smashing a car window.
Jordon Dizon, former CU linebacker and 2008 Detroit Lions draft pick, was arrested April 20 on suspicion of drunk driving, driving the wrong way on a one-way street and failure to provide insurance.
Bernard Jackson, former starting quarterback, was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree burglary, aggravated robbery and felony menacing in connection with a June 5 robbery in an apartment in the 1000 block of University Avenue.
Lionel Harris, former safety, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of first-degree burglary, aggravated robbery and felony menacing in connection with the June 5 robbery.
Source: Camera archives and Boulder and CU police
Bernard Jackson isn’t the only former Colorado football team captain currently facing criminal charges in Boulder.
Former CU linebacker Jordon Dizon, 22, was arrested April 20 and cited for driving under the influence, driving the wrong way on a one-way street and failure to provide proof of insurance. According to a police report, Dizon’s blood-alcohol level was 0.097, above the legal limit of 0.08.
Six days after his arrest — which received no media attention — Dizon was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the National Football League draft.
During a court appearance today, Dizon’s attorney, Peter Schaffer, filed a motion to waive the ex-Buff’s appearance at a scheduled case management conference. Dizon, who was named a team captain along with Jackson prior to last season, must appear at all future court hearings.
Dizon has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is scheduled to appear in Boulder County Court on Aug. 18 and has a trial set for Oct. 21.
In a phone interview from his home in Hawaii today, Dizon told the Camera he regrets the incident and understands it reflects poorly on him.
He referred all questions to Schaffer.
“I was very polite to the officer. I did everything he asked me to and I acted like a man,” Dizon said. “It’s a bad situation and I’m sorry that it happened.”
According to Boulder police records, officers found Dizon parked facing south on northbound 13th Street, near Walnut Street, at 2 a.m. April 20. Police officers said Dizon was cooperative and told them he had only stopped briefly to pick up a friend.
Police observed the smell of alcohol on Dizon’s breath and asked him to consent to voluntary roadside tests, according to the report. Dizon admitted to drinking two margaritas earlier in the evening, according to police records.
Schaffer said his client passed a breathalyzer test, but there is no mention in the arrest report of such a test being administered.
Officers arrested Dizon and he later consented to a blood test.
“Jordon is an outstanding football player, person and citizen,” Schaffer said. “I think that over time he will continue to demonstrate that to all his fans in both Michigan and Colorado.”
Dizon is the eighth member of the 2007 football team to be arrested or cited by Boulder police since January.
Jackson and former CU safety Lionel Harris were arrested Friday and Saturday and face multiple charges related to a “home invasion style” robbery earlier this month in Boulder.



Posted by buffballaz on June 23, 2008 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
.097 come on!!! Apparently its enough for him to drive on the wrongs side of the road.
Posted by flabuff227 on June 23, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
not long before the peeps on the main page start persecuting him.
Posted by mgmtgrad on June 23, 2008 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not saying that drinking and driving is a good thing, but knowing one's right and how to protect himself may have kept this from going this far.
Taking a blood test done after the fact is the worst thing he could have done. Blood test taken later, after the fact normally shows a higher reading then the breathalyzer test given on site.
Compared to a breathalyzer test which shows the actual level at the time of the incident. It is possible to drive home under the limit, but 20+ mins later have a higher reading.
Since he gave BAC sample on site that didn't read over the limit, he wasn't required to give any more samples. The police took advantage of his youth and cooperation.
If anyone reading this gets pulled over, know your rights. You are not required by law to act like a monkey on the side of the road. They do those test to gain evidence. When you sign your your DMV papers it only states that you must give a BAC.
If he had known this fact, he may not have been charged.
Bottom line is: if at the time that he was driving and if he was under the limit, by the time he was transported and blood tested he would then be over the limit. By that time he could have been home safely.
So, after passing a breathalyzer test, why was he still taken to jail for more testing?
Posted by flabuff227 on June 23, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This will be reduced to a dwai.if he doesnt take it to trial. That is what they offer to first time offenders. If there is proof that he took the breath test he will get off completely.
About 8 years ago iwas pulled over for the same thing. My lawyer was able to catch the officer in a lie about the tests that were administered. I ended up walking away.
cops constantly lie and bend the truth in their police reports, in order to build a case.I know firsthand.
Posted by Saheeb on June 23, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
.097 versus .08 limit. He was BARELY over! That doesn't excuse it, but he certainly wasn't. It was enough to help him make a bad decision. Anyhow, the last 4-5 headlines in the Camera are not a good reflection. This all better change or it is going to start to paint a poor overall picture of the character of the kids coming in/through...the last thing we need.
Posted by flabuff227 on June 23, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have two questions:
1. Was this story not wriiten immediately after his arrest because DC didn't hear about it.
2. Or is dc just piling it on, in light of the other news?
Dc- i would love to get an answer as to the timing of this article.
Posted by flabuff227 on June 23, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have two questions:
1. Was this story not wriiten immediately after his arrest because DC didn't hear about it.
2. Or is dc just piling it on, in light of the other news?
Dc- i would love to get an explanation about the timing of this article.
Posted by flabuff227 on June 23, 2008 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
saheeb- There has been a poor reflection on the foootball program for 30 years now. I wouldn't kno first hand but my father does. hes been saying it since i was little.
Posted by bouldabuff on June 24, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well at least Jordon wasn't stopping to pick up a friend to go commit a "home invasion style" robbery on the hill.
Hey tall - how is the Josh Williams case going? Didn't he pistol whip some guy for his paycheck?
Posted by bouldabuff on June 24, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now, now tall. Innocent is a word for the ignorant. I think you mean not-guilty. I sincerely wish we had kept him as a commitment, he sounds like a very resourceful young man.
Tall, what is the OU beat sheet looking like this summer?
Posted by Saheeb on June 24, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I find this sentence in Kyle's story very curious, "Six days after his arrest — which received no media attention..." This seems to imply that the Boulder police, or the CU AD, intentionally kept this quiet in order to proect Dizon's draft potential. Unless they were both engaged in some form of blatant obfuscation of which readers are unaware, I would like to know why Kyle believes it is the police or ADs job publicize such things? They are not the media. It's not their job to report such things -- especially a player barely over the BAC limit getting a DUI (again, without downplaying the seriousness of driving under the influence)! I would love an explanation from Kyle why part of the story is that there was no media coverage on Dizon's arrest prior to the draft.
Posted by rodrigo on June 24, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Uh, sorry tall but you are mistaken: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sha...
and in a situation analagous to Mr. Dizon's: http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0508...
Not engaging in some selective reality, are we?
Posted by buffalo_flyer on June 24, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
O points? just goes to show that everyone in Norman is on the Sooners payroll
Posted by OutToPasture on June 24, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where's RS on this one? He's probably grabbing some tissues to clean himself up. This last week has been like Christmas-come-early for him.
Posted by rodrigo on June 24, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So it is selective reality... boulda didn't ask about the Fulmer Cup. He asked how many OU players have been in trouble with the law. I'm assuming - based on the topic of late - that includes former Sooners.
Posted by bouldabuff on June 24, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would today's news even involve the Fulmer cup? --The last time a current member of the Buffs got in trouble was April.
Posted by buff75 on June 24, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
COME ON! I think this is a conspiracy set forth by the men of corn. I mean how else does this stuff happen when it seems CU is rising up. Dizon.....are you serious, Dizon?????Man I'm scared, any moment now Darrel Scott and Jon Major are going to rob a bank, flee and end up in Hawks office holding him hostage. It's not far from the truth now. Gentlemen (If that's what you guys are) stop this STUPID stuff and focus on your education and smacking the heck out of CSU,FSU,WVU,Texas, and the Huskers. This is not on Hawk, this is on the stupidity that enters these guys brains. GET IT STRAIGHT AND GO BUFFS!!!!
Posted by phxbuff on June 25, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to the club Jordan!
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