Former Gators swimmer Lily Ramirez, 21, was arrested Monday night for cocaine possession and resisting an officer without violence at the Alachua County Fair Grounds.
The former is a third-degree felony and the latter is a first-degree misdemeanor.
It is Ramirez’s second arrest since February, and it cost her any future she had with the Gators’ swimming and diving team.
“We are aware of Lily’s arrest,” swimming coach Gregg Troy said in a statement Tuesday. “She was attempting to work her way back on to the team as a walk-on this fall after being suspended indefinitely in the spring. One of the most rewarding moments as a coach is seeing your athletes take advantage of their opportunities; it is even more disappointing when they don’t. As of today, she will no longer be granted that opportunity and is not a member of the Florida swimming and diving team.”
According to the police report, Ramirez was witnessed hitting another female in the face Monday night at the Alachua County Fair Grounds, where a DJ Tiesto concert was being held.
After the victim told officer Michael Rodenwoldt of the Alachua County Sherriff’s Office that she did not want to pursue criminal charges against Ramirez, the officer escorted Ramirez to the event gate to be removed.
When Rodenwoldt attempted to identify Ramirez, she ran and Rodenwoldt chased after her by foot before Ramirez tripped and was detained.
According to the report, after Ramirez was detained, a search of her purse discovered a small plastic bag containing a “small amount of white powdery substance that appeared to be cocaine.”
The substance tested positive for cocaine following a field test administered by the officer.
Ramirez refused to give the officer her name and provided several false ones to the officer. She eventually said she would give Rodenwoldt her real name if he did not take her to jail.
According to the police report, Ramirez finally provided her actual name upon arriving at the jail.
If convicted for the cocaine charge, Ramirez could face a maximum of five years in prison.
For Ramirez, it is her second arrest in fewer than eight months. In early February, Ramirez and former Florida swimmer Daniela Victoria were detained for shoplifting at the Florida Mall in Orlando, where they were caught attempting to steal a pair of jackets that cost $130. The two were suspended indefinitely from the team and were charged with misdemeanor petit theft of $100 or more.
Ramirez, a senior, earned All-America honors as a freshman at the 2009 NCAA Championships as a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team, which finished ninth at the competition.
Contact Tom Green at tgreen@alligator.org.
