Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — A Notre Dame cornerback accused of tackling a police officer and punching him in the side and stomach during an altercation outside a bar was charged Tuesday with felony counts of resisting law enforcement and battery against a public safety official.
Devin Butler was arrested Saturday and released on a $1,000 bond, but St. Joseph County Prosecutor Kenneth P. Cotter requested more time to investigate the case and determine what charges were appropriate.
Butler is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. He couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday because he has an unlisted phone number. Court records don't indicate he has hired an attorney.
Butler's arrest came hours after five other teammates were arrested in Fulton County, about 40 miles south of South Bend. Indiana State Police said a trooper stopped a car for speeding and detected the odor of marijuana and with the help of a drug-sniffing dog, he found the marijuana and a handgun in the car.
Starting safety Max Redfield, running back Dexter Williams, linebacker Te'Von Coney, receiver Kevin Stepherson and cornerback Ashton White were charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. Redfield, Stepherson and Williams face an additional misdemeanor charge of possession of an unlicensed handgun.
Football coach Brian Kelly announced Sunday that Redfield had been dismissed from the team and Butler, who already was out until October with a broken foot, had been suspended indefinitely. Kelly said the others faced internal team discipline.
All six remain enrolled in school. University spokesman Paul Browne issued a statement Tuesday saying: "Students charged criminally are subject to additional sanctions by the university, separately from any imposed by athletic teams or other extracurricular activities." He previously had said any student arrested on a felony charge also faces dismissal from the university.
A probable cause affidavit states that police were at the bar near campus for another altercation and were walking back to their cars when they saw a woman kick another woman sitting on a curb in the head. Police approached the woman to arrest her for battery when Butler shoved the woman, according to the affidavit.
Officers told Butler to stay back, but he said he began cursing officers as they approached. As officers tried to detain Butler, he pushed one officer and then tackled him and began striking him and pulled off his duty belt, the affidavit says.
Police said they needed to use a stun gun to subdue him. They said the officer Butler tackled was treated at a hospital for injuries to his elbow, neck, back and arm. Police said that while Butler was being taken to jail he apologized, saying he had "been incredibly emotional and intoxicated," the affidavit says.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.