Sims, 20, was arrested by Tallahassee Police shortly after a 2 a.m. incident with his live-in girlfriend, Brooke McGriff, who refused to press charges.
The 6-foot, 225-pound Sims was released from jail after an 8 a.m. court appearance before Leon County Judge Donald S. Mondesitt. Both charges are first degree misdemeanors.
``Our athletic department discipline policy for a misdemeanor goes into effect with Ernie and he will be subject to that until I have all the facts,'' coach Bobby Bowden said in a statement released by the school.
Bowden, in most cases, has discretion on misdemeanor cases where no jail time is involved under Florida State's Code of Conduct.
Witnesses told police that at one point Sims ``slammed her on the ground'' and straddled the 5-foot-2, 118-pound McGriff as she lay on the concrete in front of a residence hall near the Florida State campus.
As she tried to stand, the player repeatedly shoved her back onto the ground. Sims remained aggressive when officers arrived, the police report said.
Sims was ``shirtless, drenched in sweat and very animated when I made contact with him,'' Tallahassee Police officer Danny Jeter wrote in the incident report. Sims later interfered with arresting officers when he and McGriff tried to walk away from police.
After Sims was arrested, McGriff was so upset that officers asked if she might be suicidal. Sims said ``she's not that kind of girl.'' Sims said they were in an argument over a call to him on Tuesday from another woman.
Although police officers said McGriff, 21, had some superficial injuries, she refused to allow them to take any pictures.
Sims, who was the Seminoles' second leading tackler last season, is the second starting linebacker who has been in trouble with police in recent months.
The team's top tackler, A.J. Nicholson, has had a pair of run-ins with police in the last six months, including a felony DUI arrest that could sideline him from the season opener against Miami.
Seminoles quarterback Wyatt Sexton was not arrested, but committed to a local hospital for psychiatric evaluation after police found him disheveled and partially clothed on a city street last month doing push-ups and calling himself God. Sexton's future with the team has still not been addressed as he continues his treatment.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/7/130873