Andre Rison Arrested For Theft

Kansas City wide receiver Andre Rison was arrested Wednesday afternoon on a charge of felony theft.

Rison was released after posting $2,000 bond on a felony charge of stealing music equipment, Lt. Steve Quigg of the Johnson County Sheriff's Department said. The equipment had been rented, but not returned, authorities said.

Rison, who played a diminished role with the Chiefs last season after resurrecting his career with the club in 1997, was to appear in court Feb. 29, Quigg said.

Rison denied the charge.

"It was someone else," he said. "They elected not to return it, so they had to come up with me."

Rison, who was suspended for one game in November after his involvement in a fight outside a midtown bar, had 21 catches for 218 yards and no touchdowns last season.

Rison, who has played for Atlanta, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Green Bay in an 11-year career, was also arrested in April 1997 in Lawrenceville, Ga. for disorderly conduct when he refused to get out of a car after a traffic stop.

Rison's role was reduced last season as tight end Tony Gonzalez became the favorite target of quarterback Elvis Grbac and wide receiver Derrick Alexander became the main big-play threat.

Rison's arrest came a day after a tribute to Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, who died Feb. 8 of complications from a car accident Jan. 23 that killed his best friend and left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Kick returner Tamarick Vanover and running back Bam Morris were named in a federal affidavit filed in what authorities said was a large-scale drug investigation.

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