Prosecutors: ‘Drug transactions’ found on Alabama guard Aden Holloway’s phone

Prosecutors say “drug transactions” were found on Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway’s phone after his arrest Monday on misdemeanor drug charges, according to documents obtained by ESPN. But Holloway’s attorney said police violated Holloway’s constitutional rights by searching his home.

Holloway, the Crimson Tide’s second-leading scorer, was kicked off campus and separated from his team after police found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his apartment, prompting him to miss Alabama’s 90-70 win over Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

According to the documents, an officer with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force found “drug transactions” on Holloway’s phone after seizing $400 that was in a jacket. Holloway told the officer he used marijuana only for personal use and that he obtained the marijuana out of state.

“The money was seized because he saw drug transactions on Holloway’s phone, with people texting him saying they were going to meet him after the season,” prosecutors said in a complaint filed Friday. “Holloway had smaller denominations in his possession, indicating narcotics sales. The marijuana was in separate packages, ranging from plastic bags to pre-packaged marijuana to vacuum-sealed bags.”

Police searched Holloway’s apartment after officers conducted a “trash pickup” and found marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia attached to containers bearing Holloway’s name in a pair of trash bags they retrieved from his trash can, according to the search warrant. The search warrant also states that police removed Holloway’s trash cans after there were “complaints.” The documents obtained by ESPN do not specify what the complaints were about.

Jason Neff, Holloway’s attorney, told ESPN that police violated Holloway’s constitutional rights by taking out his trash and using what they found as probable cause to search his apartment. He said he would push to ensure prosecutors couldn’t use what they found in Holloway’s apartment in the court proceedings.

“In examining the probable cause [search warrant]“Once this case moves forward, we will challenge the basis for the search with a motion to suppress evidence of the violation of his Fourth Amendment rights,” Neff said, referring to the amendment that protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Neff also said he hopes to set up a meeting with school officials next week after spring break to overturn the campus ban that prevents Holloway from attending classes. It could also open the door for him to play again if Alabama advances to the second weekend.

Alabama coach Nate Oats, however, didn’t seem too optimistic about that possibility when asked about Holloway before the team’s win over Hofstra. He said he continued to support Holloway after his “mistake.”

“I have three daughters, they made mistakes,” Oats said. “You don’t disappear on them when they need your help. I won’t disappear on him. I talked to him yesterday morning on the phone and the night before. I talked to him every day. I’m going to continue to talk to him, love him, help him through all of this and we’ll see where it all takes him.”

Holloway posted $5,000 bond and was released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail shortly after his arrest.

He was charged with one count of possessing a class C drug, “not for personal use”, and failing to affix a tax stamp. Both are crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.