Washington RB Charged with Stealing a Cab

Prosecutors have charged suspended Washington running back Michael Houston with stealing a cab last October.
Houston was charged this week with second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission -- a Class C felony -- and driving while intoxicated, a gross misdemeanor. Houston is scheduled to be arraigned in King County Superior Court on Monday; it was not immediately known if he had obtained a lawyer.
Houston was suspended indefinitely following his October arrest. According to police reports, Houston, two other men and a woman were picked up by an Orange Cab at a strip club early one morning. After stopping at a fast-food restaurant, the woman spit on the cab window. When the driver stepped out to call 911, Houston jumped into the front seat and drove off, the police report alleged.
Seattle police found the cab a short time later and saw a man getting out of the vehicle. Houston was arrested and booked into jail.
Houston came to Washington in August after playing as a freshman at Texas. He played in two games for the Longhorns then transferred following the season.
Houston, listed at 5-foot-11, 238 pounds, was not eligible to play last season for Washington as he was required to sit out a year after transferring. He would be eligible for the 2007 season.
Earlier this month, coach Tyrone Willingham said Houston is being included in team activities, but his status for the 2007 season would be determined after criminal proceedings play out.

Huskies suspend football player

Washington running back Michael Houston, a touted transfer from Texas, has been suspended from the team for his apparent involvement in an alleged car theft early Sunday.

In a statement issued by the university, coach Tyrone Willingham and athletic director Todd Turner said the suspension is indefinite and Houston's status will be "re-evaluated based on the complete findings of an investigation into a recent incident in which he was involved."

According to the King County jail registry, Houston was arrested Sunday morning and booked at 4:54 a.m. He was released Monday night.

A police report said Houston was with three people when a cab picked them up at Déjà Vu, a strip club on Bothell Way.

The cab driver drove them to a fast-food restaurant, where someone in the car allegedly spit on a cab window. The cab driver stepped out of his car to call 911, and then Houston allegedly drove off in the cab.

Seattle Police later found the cab on Lake City Way with Houston exiting from the driver-side door, the police report said. Houston was arrested without incident.

Houston transferred from Texas this fall and is sitting out the season due to transfer rules. He was practicing with the team.

Houston played in two games for the Longhorns in Texas' 2005 national championship season, but left school in December. He had difficulty getting his release. He said he had to pay off parking tickets and some loans he "probably shouldn't have taken out."

Houston then took classes at Community College of Aurora in Denver, his hometown.

Willingham recruited Houston when Willingham was coach at Notre Dame and Houston contacted the Huskies coach when he got his release from Texas.

Houston reported to Huskies camp on Aug. 22 and has been working with the scout teams.