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Banneker High football star charged in burglary

By KATHY JEFCOATS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/01/07 1:59 PM

A Fulton County high school football star being courted by several Top 10 colleges is one of four teenagers charged with a smash-and-grab burglary at a Forest Park rental center.

Darrell Cartez Simmons, 17, a rising senior and a safety on the Banneker High football team, and the other youths are also suspects in two dozen similar robberies in the metro area, said Clayton County Deputy Chief Tim Robinson.

Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan and Clemson are among the colleges that have expressed interest in Simmons, a resident of College Park.

The teenagers were arrested early Wednesday morning in the act of stealing merchandise from the rental center on Jonesboro Road, Robinson said. Clayton and Forest Park police had several centers under surveillance following three break-ins throughout the county that same night.

Also charged were Clinton Watkins, 19, and Burton Ligon, 18, both of Riverdale, and Zakevian Rowell, 19, of College Park. A $25,000 bond has been set for each of the four suspects on some charges but they are being held without bond on commercial burglary charges, jail records show.

Robinson said some stolen property was found inside the home of Ligon and Watkins.

Forest Park police Maj. Chris Matson said Thursday that two others were also charged with being a party to a crime. Robinson said a Clayton magistrate threw out those charges and the two were released from jail. However, Robinson said other charges may be brought against the two as the multi-jurisdictional investigation continues.