TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University basketball coach Mike Gillespie Sr. was arrested Friday on a misdemeanor stalking charge and later released from jail on a $1,000 bond. Police said they were called Friday morning by a woman, who said she was stalked at work Thursday evening and Friday morning.
She had told authorities on May 15 of Gillespie's advances, but didn't want to file charges, hoping he'd stop contacting her, a police report said.
The report said police have investigated Gillespie several times since March 2005 on stalking complaints and warned the 56-year-old to stop his behavior. It was not immediately clear who made the complaints.
Gillespie's attorney, Tim Jansen, said that the coach had been released and is subject to GPS monitoring and is not to have contact with the woman. Gillespie is married and has two adult children. His son, Mike Gillespie Jr., is his top assistant.
"Our position is it didn't happen. We would've gone in and told them it didn't happen," Jansen said. "My client wasn't given an opportunity to even come and tell his side of the story."
Jansen, who as out of town and handling the case by telephone, said he not received details of the accusation or seen a formal complaint.
Tallahassee Police Department spokesman David McCranie disputed Jansen's account, saying Gillespie refused twice Friday to tell police his side of the story.
"We were left with no alternative but to go out and make an arrest," McCranie said. "This was a clear case of stalking. It's been going on since 2005."
Gillespie completed his sixth season at Florida A&M with its first 20-win season since 1988-89 and its second NCAA tournament appearance during his tenure.
The school, which is struggling with financial issues, released a statement saying it was reviewing the charges against Gillespie.
Posted By: Jimmy Jones
Wednesday, May 30th 2007 at 8:16AM
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