Canadiens defenceman Ryan O'Byrne and forward Tom Kostopoulos spent last night in a holding cell in the Tampa jail after they were arrested outside a South Tampa night club early this morning.

O'Byrne was charged with grand theft, while Kostopoulos was charged with resisting an officer without violence.

Both were freed shortly before 9 this morning after posting bail. O'Byrne's bail was set at $2,000, while Kostopoulos has to pay $500.

They were arrested around 3 a.m. outside Whiskey Park, a popular watering hole in South Tampa. The incident started when a woman set her purse on the counter top, according to the police report. She noticed it was missing and allerted the bouncers. They saw O'Byrne outside with the woman's purse in one hand and her cellphone in the other.

O'Byrne told police it was his girlfriend's purse, but police determined it was the woman's, according to the report. He was detained and placed in the back of a police car. According to police, $20 was missing from the woman's purse. O'Byrne is making $590,000 at the NHL level this season.


According to the report: "Several associates, who were identified as National Hockey League players/members, crowded around the officers and the police car. They were told numerous times to get away from the car and not to interfere."

Kostopoulos was arrested when he refused to obey the police order.

The Canadiens declined to comment on the situation until after a 4 p.m. practice.