Former NFL player, and current Teneroc High School football head coach Laroni Gallishaw was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Friday night, July 6, 2018, in Lakeland, for drug possession and other charges.
Gallishaw was a standout running back for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts Football 1999 State Champions. He played college football at Louisville and Murray State, and played in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings in 2005. He was named head coach for Teneroc’s football program in July of 2017.
The stop was conducted at about 11:40 p.m. when a deputy noticed Gallishaw’s blue Dodge Charger driving with an expired tag on Memorial Boulevard near Chestnut Road. The Charger pulled into a Chevron gas station at the intersection.
As the deputy approached the vehicle, he could see Gallishaw, the lone occupant of the car, trying to hide something between the driver’s seat and center console. The deputy obtained permission from Gallishaw to search the car, and immediately discovered a razor blade with a small amount of cocaine in a cup holder. At that time, Gallishaw was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail.
At the jail, while waiting to be booked-in, a deputy noticed Gallishaw reaching into his underwear, then attempt to hide something in the seat next to him. A deputy entered the holding cell, and found what was determined to be a rock of cocaine, and a small amount of marijuana.
“I’m a football fan and I have watched Gallishaw play since he was at Lakeland High School. He was a great athlete and a good role model. His arrest is disappointing to me, to the kids who looked up to him, and to the community. Drugs ruin otherwise good people, and creates horrible circumstances for their families.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
“Every employee of Polk County Public Schools is held to a higher standard because we all serve as role models for our children. The charges brought against Mr. Gallishaw are completely against our school district’s values and are totally unacceptable. This type of behavior will not be tolerated, and I have instructed my HR staff to immediately begin the process of terminating Mr. Gallishaw’s employment.” – Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd
Gallishaw was charged with Possession of Cocaine (F-3), Introduction of Contraband into the jail (F-3), Tampering with Evidence (F-3), Possession of Marijuana (M-1), and Possession of Paraphernalia (
