SUFFOLK -- Marcus Vick, the former Virginia Tech quarterback who was dismissed from the team last week after various troubles on and off the field, was arrested and charged Monday with three counts of brandishing a firearm, a misdemeanor.

The 21-year-old turned himself in at the Suffolk magistrate's office Monday afternoon and later was released on a $10,000 bond.

Vick's next scheduled court appearance is Thursday. If convicted, he could face up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine for each charge.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday, police were called by the mother of a 17-year-old boy. She reported that Vick "had pointed a weapon at her son and two others during an altercation" in the parking lot of the McDonald's in the 6200 block of College Drive, said police spokeswoman Lt. D.J. George.

Vick was with his girlfriend at the restaurant, where Vick told police she had an argument with three people.

When Vick went to confront them about it, the trio said Vick pulled out a handgun, police said.

During an interview with police at his family's Suffolk home Sunday night, Vick denied having a gun. Police have not recovered a weapon.

Larry Woodward, Vick's lawyer, acknowledged the arrest Monday, but said, "I'm not going to answer any question about the nature of the case."

Reached by phone shortly before turning himself in, Vick's response to questions about the incident was to hang up. Calls to Vick's mother's home in northern Suffolk went unanswered.

Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer and athletic director Jim Weaver did not immediately return calls.

This arrest is just the latest incident in a tumultuous two-year stretch for Vick.

On May 14, 2004, Vick was charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sentenced to 30 days in jail, which he later avoided with an appeal. That charge was the result of a party with three teenage girls, to whom Vick provided alcohol and was accused of, but never charged with, having sex with one of them -- a 15-year-old.

Then, on July 3, 2004, after Vick was pulled over on Interstate 64 in New Kent County for driving 88 mph in a 65-mph zone, he was found in possession of marijuana. One month later, he pleaded no contest to the drug charge, received probation, a suspended license and was booted out of school and off the football team for the 2004 season.

Under a last-chance, zero-tolerance agreement with Tech, Vick returned to school and his team in January 2005. As the starting quarterback this past fall, he led Tech to an 11-2 record and received All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.

But during the Jan. 2 Gator Bowl victory over the University of Louisville, Vick stomped on a defenseless opposing player, drawing intense national scrutiny and criticism.

As school officials and coaches were trying to decide on his punishment, it was discovered Friday that Vick had been pulled over Dec. 17 in Hampton for speeding and driving on a suspended license.

That was the final straw for Tech. University President Charles Steger announced late Friday afternoon that Vick had been permanently dismissed from the football team.

That night, Vick told The Virginian-Pilot that he was planning to turn pro.

Jeff King, a senior tight end who caught 26 passes and a team-high six touchdown passes from Vick this season, was surprised to learn about Vick's latest round of trouble.

"That sounds a little out of character of the Marcus that we know," King said when he learned of the gun charges. "I hope things clear up for him. He's given up a big opportunity."

For the second time in three days, another teammate, Aaron Rouse, was flabbergasted.

"No, no, no way," Rouse said. "That can't be. I just can't believe that. I really don't know what to say."