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.