Deputy's Attempt to Serve Deion Sanders Papers at Practice Fails

A deputy with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office attempted to serve civil papers to Colorado football coach Deion Sanders last week but was unable to reach him because he was at an open practice and unavailable, according to the sheriff's office.

The deputy arrived on campus at 10:22 a.m. on August 11, the day the Buffaloes held an open practice under rules barring anything observed from being reported, published or shared. Sanders is being subpoenaed to testify in a bankruptcy trial involving his son, Shilo Sanders, that begins August 31, according to USA Today.

Carrie Haverfield, a senior communications specialist for the sheriff's office, said in an email to The Associated Press that it is not uncommon for civil papers to require several attempts before being served. She said university staff were cooperative, not obstructive.

"We did not find any university staff to be attempting to block the civil service, on the contrary, they were attempting to help our deputy find a better time to do so," Haverfield wrote. "We do not disclose the specific contents of civil papers that we serve."

Haverfield said Sanders' legal counsel later indicated they were able to receive the papers on his behalf, but because they were not located in Boulder County, the paperwork was transferred to Denver to be served there.

The Colorado athletic department had no additional information to offer. The Buffaloes open their season September 3 at Georgia Tech.

Shilo Sanders remains in litigation stemming from a lawsuit filed by a security guard over an incident that occurred when Sanders was in high school. The guard was issued a default judgment after Sanders failed to appear for his court date. Shilo Sanders, who played safety for his father at Colorado, was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last August.