KU football player Pooka Williams charged with domestic battery, suspended from team

By Dylan Lysen     Dec 7, 2018

Nick Krug
Kansas running back Pooka Williams Jr. (1) runs the ball against Texas defensive back P.J. Locke III (11) during the second quarter on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 at Memorial Stadium.

University of Kansas star football player Pooka Williams has been arrested and charged with domestic battery following an incident at a KU dorm this week.

KU police arrested Williams — whose full name is Anthony Ray Williams — at the KU Public Safety Office, 1501 Crestline Drive, and he was booked into jail at 3 p.m. Thursday, according to the Douglas County Jail’s online booking log.

KU police provided the following details about the incident in a news release Friday: An 18-year-old female student on Thursday reported that early Wednesday morning she was in a physical altercation with a 19-year-old male student in Stouffer Place Apartments, 1835 Ousdahl Road. On the booking log, Williams’ address is listed as Stouffer Place Apartments. On the publicly available portion of the police report, the woman is listed as also living on campus, but not in Stouffer Place Apartments.

The woman reported minor injuries, which did not require medical attention, according to the news release. The police report listed the type of weapon used as a “personal weapon,” which indicates bodily force and not a separate weapon.

After the incident was reported Thursday, Williams was interviewed and subsequently arrested, police said.

Williams spent the night in jail and made his first court appearance Friday afternoon in Douglas County District Court. He was formally charged with domestic battery, a misdemeanor.

His attorney, Hatem B. Chahine, entered a not guilty plea on Williams’ behalf. A prosecutor said Williams did not have prior criminal history.

Judge James T. George set a $1,000 bond for Williams and ordered him to not make contact with the victim or return to her residence. George scheduled Williams’ next appearance for 9 a.m. Jan. 9.

KU football coach Les Miles said Friday morning that he was aware of a reported incident involving Williams.

“We are taking these allegations very seriously,” Miles said. “We have suspended Pooka from all team-related activities pending further investigation.”

Williams is a freshman running back from New Orleans who arguably became the face of the team during the 2018 season, winning several weekly and season-long awards for his performance on the field.

http://www2.kusports.com/photos/2018/dec/07/328026/

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