You Won't Believe Why This College Linebacker Got Arrested (Again)...or His Hilarious Excuse for Misbehaving

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (TheBlaze/AP) -- Florida linebacker Antonio Morrison was arrested for the second time in five weeks early Sunday.

And while his latest misadventure is surely a head-scratcher, his excuse for the stunt most definitely beats it.

Morrison was arrested for barking at a police dog.

(And resisting arrest, if you're keeping track.)

Both charges are misdemeanors.

(Credit: Florida Football web site)

Justin Hunter # 11 of the Tennessee Volunteers is tackled by Antonio Morrison #12 of the Florida Gators during the second half of play at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Credit: Getty Images)

That's arguably odd enough. But check out how the police report describes Morrison's "defense" for his actions Sunday, according to ESPN:

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) throws a pass as Florida linebacker Antonio Morrison (12) defends during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. (Credit: AP)

The dog barked at him first.

Now the 6-foot-1, 230-pound sophomore from Bolingbrook, Ill.—expected to be the Gators' starting middle linebacker this season, ESPN reports—has been suspended for at least the first two games of the regular season.

Oh, his other arrest?

That happened June 16 for allegedly punching a bouncer. He received deferred prosecution on the simple battery charge, a deal in which he was ordered to stay out of trouble for six months.

So Morrison was back in court Sunday; a judge released him on his own recognizance.

Gators coach Will Muschamp announced later that Morrison would be held out of the opener against Toledo (Aug. 31) and the road game the next week against Miami.

More from ESPN:

According to an Alachua County Sheriff Office's report, police responded to a suspicious incident and disturbance call at 3:43 a.m. Sunday at a Gainesville hotel adjacent to a nightclub. While officer William A. Arnold was investigating the vehicle that was the subject of the call, a group of several men were walking along SW 13th Street.

One of the men reportedly approached the patrol car and began barking at his police dog through the open window. The report said that caused the dog, named Bear, to bark back at the man, which Arnold says in his report diverted his attention from investigating the vehicle.

The report says Arnold told the man -- later identified by his driver's license as Morrison -- to wait in front of his patrol car and the man resisted when Arnold tried to handcuff him. Two other officers arrived and helped detain Morrison, according to the report. [...]

Alachua County Sheriff's spokesman Art Forgey said it's rare for someone to harass a canine officer.

"We don't see that very often at all," he said. "Gainesville Police Department has horses and they see it sometimes. Usually everybody steers clear of the dogs."

Here's a report from ESPN:

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