Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2005 10:36:26 GMT -5
URI athlete arrested at bar
A university spokeswoman would not comment on whether the arrest would jeopardize basketball star Dawan I. Robinson's senior season.
01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, September 27, 2005
BY ARTHUR GREGG SULZBERGER
Journal Staff Writer
NARRAGANSETT -- The University of Rhode Island's star basketball player, Dawan I. Robinson, was arrested early Saturday morning for his role in a dispute outside a Narragansett bar.
The 23-year-old point guard was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and failure to disperse, all misdemeanors. It took five police officers and the use of pepper spray to subdue the 6-foot-2-inch athlete, in a large and at times hostile crowd that had gathered outside the Black Point Bar & Grille, a popular college bar near Scarborough Beach.
Robinson was held in jail overnight and released with a summons to appear in District Court, South Kingstown, next Tuesday for a formal arraignment.
Two years ago Robinson led the Rams to a 20-14 record and a spot in the National Invitation Tournament, averaging a team-best 15.1 points and earning himself a reputation as a clutch scoring guard.
Entering last season, the Philadelphia native was tapped as one of the top players in the Atlantic 10 Conference, but a stress fracture in his foot forced him to sit out most of the season.
Robinson, a communications major, worked throughout the summer to regain strength in his foot. His expected return to the starting lineup, along with a strong class of recruits, has fans hoping the team could show major gains over last year's 6-22 record.
University spokeswoman Linda A. Acciardo would not comment on whether the arrest would jeopardize the point guard's senior season. "That issue will be discussed internally," she said. "You will know when we play our first game."
Reading from a prepared statement Acciardo said: "As an adult, Dawan will need to deal with the legal consequences of his behavior. . . . The coach and the athletic director have individually met with him. Any internal actions that the university is taking will not be discussed publicly, but I can assure you that we are responding appropriately given the circumstances surrounding this arrest."
The incident stemmed from a dispute between two women inside the bar, said Narragansett Police Chief J. David Smith.
The fight began to escalate when one was spat on in the face and Robinson came to her defense. The bartenders quickly closed the bar, more than an hour before last call.
"In the beginning Dawan was trying to defend the victim, but it got out of hand and spilled into the parking lot where it was just a free-for-all," said Smith.
As the bar emptied, tensions began to escalate in the parking lot, where the crowd grew to several hundred people, according to the police report.
Officers on the scene called for backup as the crowd broke into groups, yelling, swearing and pushing each other. The police focused on Robinson, who was yelling at another group of men. The police told Robinson to leave the area four times, as several friends including teammate Jamaal Wise, a senior forward, tried to pull Robinson away from the officers, according to the report.
After a fifth warning, the police told Robinson he was under arrest. Robinson attempted to walk away, according to the report, but was grabbed by one of the officers. Three officers began struggling to subdue him. The crowd became increasingly rowdy. Another student, Michele Bilodeau, who is also being charged in the incident, jumped on one officer's back and tried to pull him away from the Robinson, the report said.
As the conflict escalated, one of the officers sprayed Robinson with pepper spray. The other four officers on the scene were then able to wrestle Robinson to the ground and handcuff him. As the crowd moved in, cursing and yelling, one of the officers sprayed the crowd with pepper spray, according to the report.
As Robinson was led to the police car, he repeated several times, "Yeah it took all five of you all," the report said. Several other officers arrived and helped break up the crowd.
Smith said Robinson crossed a line and said it was lucky no one was hurt in the incident.
"Five times Dawan Robinson was advised to leave, that his conduct was unacceptable, to chill out and go home and he didn't," said Smith. "He was inciting the crowd with his words and actions."
Smith said the investigation is continuing and he expects additional arrests to be made.
Journal sports writer Kevin McNamara contributed to this report.
A university spokeswoman would not comment on whether the arrest would jeopardize basketball star Dawan I. Robinson's senior season.
01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, September 27, 2005
BY ARTHUR GREGG SULZBERGER
Journal Staff Writer
NARRAGANSETT -- The University of Rhode Island's star basketball player, Dawan I. Robinson, was arrested early Saturday morning for his role in a dispute outside a Narragansett bar.
The 23-year-old point guard was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and failure to disperse, all misdemeanors. It took five police officers and the use of pepper spray to subdue the 6-foot-2-inch athlete, in a large and at times hostile crowd that had gathered outside the Black Point Bar & Grille, a popular college bar near Scarborough Beach.
Robinson was held in jail overnight and released with a summons to appear in District Court, South Kingstown, next Tuesday for a formal arraignment.
Two years ago Robinson led the Rams to a 20-14 record and a spot in the National Invitation Tournament, averaging a team-best 15.1 points and earning himself a reputation as a clutch scoring guard.
Entering last season, the Philadelphia native was tapped as one of the top players in the Atlantic 10 Conference, but a stress fracture in his foot forced him to sit out most of the season.
Robinson, a communications major, worked throughout the summer to regain strength in his foot. His expected return to the starting lineup, along with a strong class of recruits, has fans hoping the team could show major gains over last year's 6-22 record.
University spokeswoman Linda A. Acciardo would not comment on whether the arrest would jeopardize the point guard's senior season. "That issue will be discussed internally," she said. "You will know when we play our first game."
Reading from a prepared statement Acciardo said: "As an adult, Dawan will need to deal with the legal consequences of his behavior. . . . The coach and the athletic director have individually met with him. Any internal actions that the university is taking will not be discussed publicly, but I can assure you that we are responding appropriately given the circumstances surrounding this arrest."
The incident stemmed from a dispute between two women inside the bar, said Narragansett Police Chief J. David Smith.
The fight began to escalate when one was spat on in the face and Robinson came to her defense. The bartenders quickly closed the bar, more than an hour before last call.
"In the beginning Dawan was trying to defend the victim, but it got out of hand and spilled into the parking lot where it was just a free-for-all," said Smith.
As the bar emptied, tensions began to escalate in the parking lot, where the crowd grew to several hundred people, according to the police report.
Officers on the scene called for backup as the crowd broke into groups, yelling, swearing and pushing each other. The police focused on Robinson, who was yelling at another group of men. The police told Robinson to leave the area four times, as several friends including teammate Jamaal Wise, a senior forward, tried to pull Robinson away from the officers, according to the report.
After a fifth warning, the police told Robinson he was under arrest. Robinson attempted to walk away, according to the report, but was grabbed by one of the officers. Three officers began struggling to subdue him. The crowd became increasingly rowdy. Another student, Michele Bilodeau, who is also being charged in the incident, jumped on one officer's back and tried to pull him away from the Robinson, the report said.
As the conflict escalated, one of the officers sprayed Robinson with pepper spray. The other four officers on the scene were then able to wrestle Robinson to the ground and handcuff him. As the crowd moved in, cursing and yelling, one of the officers sprayed the crowd with pepper spray, according to the report.
As Robinson was led to the police car, he repeated several times, "Yeah it took all five of you all," the report said. Several other officers arrived and helped break up the crowd.
Smith said Robinson crossed a line and said it was lucky no one was hurt in the incident.
"Five times Dawan Robinson was advised to leave, that his conduct was unacceptable, to chill out and go home and he didn't," said Smith. "He was inciting the crowd with his words and actions."
Smith said the investigation is continuing and he expects additional arrests to be made.
Journal sports writer Kevin McNamara contributed to this report.