Former ASU football player arrested
By Melanie Davis
Melanie@highcountrymedia.net

A former member of the Appalachian State University football team was arrested Tuesday by officers of the Boone Police Department.

Jonathan Ray, 21, a junior sociology major, was alleged to be in possession of steroids and syringes.

Officers began their investigation into drug activity in early October. The patrol division responded to a call at a residence on N.C. 105, at which time officers observed what appeared to be controlled substances and paraphernalia in plain view.

Boone narcotics officers obtained a search warrant for the home and discovered three substances, suspected to be steroids.

The samples were sent to the State Bureau of Investigations for analysis. The results confirmed three varieties of steroids, including stanozolol, ternbolore acetate and testosterone-17beta-zypionate.

ASU athletics director Charlie Cobb said, “[Ray] was dismissed from the football program on Oct. 8, shortly after the athletics department was made aware that a criminal investigation was under way.”

Ray was a nonrecruited walk-on defensive lineman, but never saw game competition

Cobb declined further comment.

“Due to the fact that the person in question is no longer a member of the football program, any further comment from ASU athletics department personnel or student athletes would be inappropriate,” he said.

Ray, of 2468 N.C. 105, Boone, has been charged with misdemeanor possession of a schedule III controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He is scheduled to appear in District Court on Dec. 6 in lieu of a $1,000 secured bond.