Montana State defensive backs Naijiel Hale and Darren Gardenhire, a pair of talented transfers from the University of Washington, were arrested Wednesday on criminal distribution of dangerous drugs charges.
MSU put out a press release at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning indicating both were suspended indefinitely.
The Gallatin Valley jail roster indicates that Naijiel Dwoyne Hale, age 21, was booked at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5 on charges of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Hale is charged with each crime in both the Gallatin Justice Court and the Bozeman Municipal Court. Both Hale’s distribution charges are felonies while his paraphernalia charge is a misdemeanor.
Darren Lamar Gardenhire, age 20, was booked at 3:51 p.m. Wednesday on one charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs in the Gallatin Justin Court. Gardenhire’s charge is a felony.
Christopher Flanagan, age 20, was also arrested in relation to the incident and charged with dealing the anti-anxiety drug, Xanax. Flanagan is charged with two felonies: possession with intent to distribute dangerous drugs and possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture.
Hale, Gardenhire and Flanagan are set to appear in Gallatin County Justice Court Thursday morning to have their bails set.
Montana State secondary coach Mark Orphey coaches transfer CB Darren Gardenhire/ by Colter Nuanez
Under Montana Code Annotated 45-9-101 – criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, a person “person commits the offense of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs if the person sells, barters, exchanges, gives away, or offers to sell, barter, exchange, or give away any dangerous drug.” According to Montana law, if the pair are convicted of distributing drugs, they each face prison time from 2 years to life and fines up to $50,000.
According to court documents obtained by Skyline Sports:
Missouri Drug Task Force informants arranged a meeting with Hale to purchase Xanax, a powerful prescription medication given to patients with anxiety. Before the meeting, Hale told the informant to meet with “his brother” instead of Hale.
The Drug Task Force member met with Gardenhire instead, purchasing Xanax from him at a Bozeman apartment close to Montana State’s campus while other investigators watched and photographed the purchase.
Following the purchase, investigators interviewed Gardenhire, who they said they were able to identify through the registration of his 2013 Chevy Camaro and by comparing photos taken at the scene during the initial meeting with pictures from MSU football practices. Gardenhire indicated to investigators during the initial interview that this roommate, Hale, was selling Xanax but said he was not. Officials explained to Gardenhire that he was witnessed dealing to an operative but Gardenhire would only state that he was with his roommate at the time when Hale was dealing drugs.
MSU cornerback Naijiel Hale (7)
The documents indicate that Hale set up another meeting for multiple Xanax pills at he and Gardenhire’s apartment on Emily Drive in Bozeman in late February. The charging documents state that Hale arranged a deal at his home and sent directions to his home to the informant. Hale was present at the time of the deal but did not “actually hand the Xanax to the MRDF operative”, but instead another person delivered the drugs to the operative at the arranged location.
Wednesday, Bozeman police served a search warrant at Hale and Gardenhire’s home, finding a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The investigators had a Bozeman Police K9 sniff both Gardenhire and Hale’s vehicles. The police indicated they could smell the odor of marijuana emanating from both vehicles. Both vehicles were seized and search warrants for the vehicles are being applied for currently.
Hale and Gardenhire appeared in Gallatin Valley Justice Court on Thursday morning. Bail has been set at $25,000 for Hale and $20,000 for Gardenhire.
That same morning, investigators served a search warrant at Flanagan’s 16th Avenue residence, finding 355 Xanax pills, approximately 19 grams of mushrooms, LSD, a digital scale and $315 in cash. Flanagan admitted to investigators that he was dealing Xanax in large quantities to people in Bozeman.
Hale was a 4-star recruit at St. John Bosco High in Bellflower, California before coming to Washington. The son of the late platinum-selling hip hop artist Nate Dogg played in nine games and started two as a true freshman for the Huskies in 2014. He was dismissed from the team following the season and did not play football or attend school in 2015. He was part of MSU second-year head coach Jeff Choate’s first signing class in February of 2016. Choate spent two seasons as the defensive line coach at Washington.
Darren Gardenhire
Gardenhire played three seasons for the Huskies, earning nine starts as a sophomore in 2015 and three more last season. He fell out of the starting lineup during the second half of last season. In November, Gardenhire abruptly left the Washington program despite the fact that the Huskies were in the middle of a run to the Pac 12 championship and a spot in the FBS playoffs.
Seattle Times Washington beat writer Adam Jude reported upon Gardenhire’s departure:
“Sources told The Times that Gardenhire has been at odds with UW coaches at least in part because of his refusal to take a drug test. Asked about that Monday, UW coach Chris Petersen declined comment.”
Hale played in two games last season but struggled with an ailing knee for most of his sophomore campaign. He had off-season knee surgery and has not participated in any of MSU’s spring practices thus far. Gardenhire, who must sit out the 2017 season because of NCAA transfer rules, was a standout the first two weeks of spring ball before rolling his ankle on Saturday. He did not participate in Monday or Wednesday’s practices.
Through a Montana State spokesman, Choate declined further comment on the suspensions.
Montana State reassumes spring football Saturday afternoon in Great Falls with the Triangle Classic spring game.
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
