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ISU Football

Player admits looking for cash

Gair, Thompson face criminal charges in dormitory incident.

By TOM WITOSKY
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
January 29, 2005
An Iowa State football player arrested this week on attempted burglary charges told police he was looking for money when he and a teammate were found in a student dormitory room, court documents show.

Jerry Gair, a sophomore defensive back, made the admission during questioning by Iowa State University police after he was taken into custody Monday, according to records.

Campus police arrested Gair, 20, and Tyease Thompson, a freshman running back, on charges of attempted burglary in the second degree after they were discovered in a Larch Hall dormitory by residents of the room.

Thompson, who fled during an attempt to arrest him, also was charged with interference with official acts.

Gair's admission is detailed in an affidavit filed Thursday by Mervin Johnston, an Iowa State University patrol officer, as part of an application for a warrant to search Gair's apartment and car.

Johnston said Gair "confessed to being in the room looking for money to take." During the interview, Gair also identified Thompson as the other man in the dorm room, records show.

Documents filed in Story County District Court also indicate that police searched Gair's apartment at 4409 Toronto St. No. 2 in Ames and Thompson's dorm residence, 2345 Larch Hall.

Police were searching for two computers, a cellular telephone, a television, a Sony PlayStation and clothing. Police seized no property in the searches, records indicate.

Attempted burglary in the second degree is a Class D felony. Interference with official acts is a serious misdemeanor.

Capt. Gene Deisinger of the Iowa State University police indicated earlier this week that Gair and Thompson were under suspicion for several recent burglaries in the Larch Hall area.

Deisinger confirmed Friday that the items listed in the search warrants for Gair's and Thompson's residences are items reported to police as stolen over the last month.

Johnston's affidavit also indicates witnesses near Larch Hall said they saw a male matching Gair's description carrying what appeared to be a laptop bag. The man placed the bag into a white Camaro car with Louisiana license plates prior to his arrest, witnesses said.

Gair, of La Place , La., acknowledged he drives a Camaro with Louisiana plates, records say.

Police said they received a report of a stolen laptop and cell phone from an Iowa State student while they were investigating the burglary complaint.

Gair and Thompson, 19, were suspended from the football team following their arrests. Each played in 11 of 12 Cyclone games last season. Thompson returned the most kickoffs for the Cyclones - 14 for a 23.8-yard average - and rushed 21 times for 77 yards.

Gair recorded one tackle and one fumble recovery.

Thompson also was suspended for the Independence Bowl game for an undisclosed violation of team rules.