By BILL VILONA
Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - One day after Adrian McPherson denounced Florida State and the school's immediate decision to dismiss him from the football team, the former quarterback was arrested Wednesday for his alleged role in check forgery.

McPherson, 19, was processed on felony and misdemeanor charges, shortly after he arrived at the Leon County Jail. He was flanked by his parents and two lawyers.

McPherson, who started the Seminoles' past four games, is charged with stealing a blank check Nov. 18 from an auto parts store. The check was later cashed by a former high school teammate for $3,500 at a Tallahassee bank.

Melvin Capers, 20, was arrested late Monday on felony charges for cashing the check and was released Tuesday.

That same day, McPherson spoke out against coach Bobby Bowden, saying coaches "had turned their back" on him without reason.

He said he would never seek reinstatement to Florida State, which removed him Monday. Bowden told his players that one of the reasons McPherson was kicked off the team, as opposed to being placed on indefinite suspension, was lying about his involvement.

"I meant it for just the players to know, but somehow it got out, which is fine, because it's the truth," Bowden said Wednesday. "That weighed heavily in our decision.

"I knew the story. Most of you (media) did not know the story. I can understand the suspense there."

McPherson, 19, a sophomore in college eligibility, posted a $1,500 bond and was released 45 minutes later. He did not speak with reporters. His first appearance in court will be set next week.

"Mr. McPherson has come here, bonded out and will have his day in court," said Daryl Parks, one of McPherson's lawyers, who works with Grady C. Irvin Jr., the St. Petersburg-based attorney who held two news conferences this week to declare McPherson's innocence.

According to Tallahassee police, McPherson removed a check from an office drawer, while store owner Dale Acosta was attending to another customer. He left the carbons, which are being examined for fingerprint identification.

Capers cashed the check the same day for $3,500. McPherson told police that Capers took the check from a trash bin inside the store.

"He changed his story about five or six times," said Scott Hunt, spokesman for the Tallahassee Police Department. "He didn't take the check, the check was found in the garbage. ... every time we turned on the TV or radio, he's saying something else (through his attorney)."

Police say Capers is cooperating with the investigation. Neither Capers nor McPherson has a prior criminal record, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) records.

"We have reason to believe it was Adrian McPherson who stole the check, who gave it to Capers and Capers who cashed it," Hunt said. "The check was inside the (store) checkbook. Adrian was in there by himself.

"When Mr. Acosta went back to look at his check book, the check was gone and it showed up at Capital City Bank (in Tallahassee) later that afternoon, already cashed."

What isn't clear is why McPherson was allegedly trying to obtain $3,500.

Police believe the alleged forgery is an isolated incident and does not relate to any more crimes. Several television stations in Tallahassee, and others in the state, have aired reports using anonymous sources suggesting McPherson was linked to gambling or possible point-shaving in FSU football games.

"We have no evidence of that at all," Hunt said.

According to Capers' statements to police, McPherson told Capers the money he was receiving was from a Florida State booster and he needed Capers' name on the check "to keep the coaches from finding out about it."

Tallahassee police said there is no evidence of McPherson getting money from a booster.

Hunt said no other Florida State football players were involved. Nor is there any suspicion that Acosta, an acknowledged FSU fan, allowed someone to remove a check and present it for cash.