Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney said she doesn’t plan to take any further action against Kansas University running back John Randle in connection with a Nov. 2 incident at his apartment in Jayhawker Towers.
KU police said Randle’s girlfriend alleged he pushed her, threw her onto a bed and put her in a headlock.
According to the police report, the incident happened between 10 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. Nov. 1. Officers were called to Randle’s apartment at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 2 by the 20-year-old Wichita woman and arrived at the scene four minutes later.
The woman, who also reported that a $100 silver necklace with diamond pendant she was wearing had been broken, suffered minor injuries according to Major Chris Keary, the assistant director of the KU Public Safety Office. Keary said the woman declined medical treatment.
After talking to both Randle and the woman, KU Police arrested Randle on suspicion of domestic battery and criminal damage to property.
“We would have to have probable cause to believe that an incident took place — a broken necklace would indicate that,” Keary said.
Randle was booked into Douglas County jail at 2:24 a.m. Nov. 2, but was released at 2:23 p.m. Nov. 3 after Kenney’s office decided not to file charges.
“We received the report from the investigating agency the following business day,” Kenney said. “After we reviewed that report, we determined that there was not sufficient evidence to file charges. We do not anticipate taking any further action.”
Kenney said the standard required for the D.A.’s office to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt is higher than that required for an arrest.
“An arrest, officers need to have probable cause and for us to open a criminal case, we only need to have probable cause,” she said. “But, we need to be able to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt before we can ethically file criminal charges.”
Kenney also pointed out that for a crime to fit into the category of domestic battery — the relationship between the suspect and the victim has to be more than just boyfriend/girlfriend. For instance if it’s a married couple or they have a “child in common.”
Randle, a freshman from Wichita Southeast, played against Nebraska on Nov. 8, starting at cornerback for the first time this season in addition to his duties on offense.
The Journal-World usually does not identify suspects in arrests unless charges are filed, but KU coach Mark Mangino released a statement about the arrest Tuesday night.
“I have been notified that due to insufficient evidence, no charges were filed against John Randle,” Mangino said. “Pursuant to the Family Rights and Privacy Act, we will have no further comment on this matter. All questions regarding this disposition of this matter should be referred to the district attorney’s office.”
Asked about the matter earlier Tuesday by News Center staff, Mangino had declined to comment.
— 6News’ Jeff Golimowski and Janet Reid, Journal-World’s David Mitchell and Eric Weslander, 6Sports Kevin Romary, and World Online’s Levi Chronister contributed to this story.
