ECU Freshman Running Back Dismissed After Arrest for Breaking Into Cars

A serious lapse in judgment has cost East Carolina University freshman running back Eddie Love Jr. both his freedom and his spot on the football team.

Love, just 18 years old, was arrested Saturday morning by Greenville police after officers say he was caught breaking into vehicles near Overlook Drive and Longwood Drive. According to warrants, Love targeted a Ford Explorer and a Hyundai Elantra, but his decision to wear latex gloves and later flee police only compounded his troubles.

Authorities say Love initially stopped when approached by officers but gave them a fake name before trying to escape on foot. He was quickly caught in a nearby driveway.

The incident reflects a troubling decision-making process for a young athlete who had a promising opportunity ahead of him. Instead of focusing on his future on the field, Love’s choices now leave him facing two counts of breaking and entering a vehicle and two counts of resisting a public officer.

ECU Athletics confirmed Love has been dismissed from the team, stating, “We are aware of the situation and he is no longer a member of the football team.”

Love, a freshman from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was released Sunday on a $10,000 bond. His arrest is a stark reminder of how one bad choice can derail a young career before it even begins.