Ex-OSU football standout faces drug charge in Warren muni

Staff report

WARREN

Van DeCree, 58, of Tod Avenue Northwest, a former All-American defensive end at Ohio State University in 1973 and 1974, appeared in Warren Municipal Court on Friday morning on a felony drug-possession charge.

An innocent plea was entered, and DeCree was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, meaning he didn’t have to pay anything.

DeCree, a Warren Western Reserve High School graduate, also pleaded innocent to a minor-misdemeanor charge of failing to use his headlights at night.

A Warren police officer said he made a traffic stop on DeCree’s 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass four-door at 8:51 p.m. as it was headed west on Atlantic Street Northwest near Mahoning Avenue because the car’s headlights were not on.

The officer determined that DeCree was driving on a suspended driver’s license and placed him under arrest.

While searching DeCree, the officer found two small bags of crack cocaine in his pants pocket, according to a Warren police report. DeCree, who is listed on the report as being 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, complained to the officer of chest pains and was taken to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

DeCree is a member of the Ohio State Football Hall of Fame Class of 1990.

He was a three-year starter and three-time All-Big-10 selection at defensive end, having been voted all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior.

He was also voted to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 1999. He played professional football for the World Football League in 1975 for the Chicago Winds.