UMass suspends 4 football players from team following arrests in Amherst

4 UMass players suspended from team after arrests

AMHERST, Mass. — Four University of Massachusetts football players have been suspended from the team following their arrests by Amherst police on drug charges.

The school said in a statement that the players were suspended for violating team rules.

The players were identified as James Carven, a junior defensive back from Hanover, Mass.; Bob McLaughlin, a junior defensive lineman from Brewster, Mass.; Mike Mele, a junior linebacker from Sea Girt, N.J.; and Shane Viveiros, a sophomore defensive back from Fall River, Mass.

Amherst Police Detective Richard MacLean says the four men were arrested around midnight Friday and charged with possession of a Class B drug. Mele and Viveiros were also charged with misuse of a liquor ID or license.

It was not immediately known if the men had attorneys.