A Kansas University football player who was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly striking another man outside a downtown Lawrence bar was formally charged this afternoon with misdemeanor battery.
John Randle, 20, a sophomore running back last season, was ordered to appear at 1:30 p.m. April 14 before Judge Paula Martin in Douglas County District Court.
Randle allegedly struck a 21-year-old Lawrence man at 1:51 a.m. Sunday in front of It’s Brothers Bar & Grill, 1105 Mass.
The victim was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital to be treated for nose and cheek injuries, Lawrence police said. The blow was witnessed by a Lawrence police officer who was on duty in the area. That officer arrested Randle without incident, police said.
Randle had been in jail since early Sunday morning.
Judge Pro Tem Peggy Kittel set a cash bond of $1,000 for Randle.
Randle’s arrest coincided with the start of spring practice for the football team. Associate Athletic Director Jim Marchiony said the athletic department would have no comment about Randle until more information was known.
Randle was arrested in a domestic battery incident in November 2003, but the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office decided not to file charges after reviewing the case. In April 2004 Randle was ordered by a Lawrence Municipal Court judge to serve two days in jail for attempted theft, disorderly conduct and having a fake driver’s license. The charges stemmed from earlier incidents outside a downtown dance hall and at a convenience store.
Kansas University football player John Randle is in trouble with the law again.
Randle, 20, a sophomore running back last season, allegedly struck a 21-year old Lawrence male at 1:15 a.m. Sunday in front of It’s Brothers Bar & Grill, 1105 Mass.
The victim was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital to be treated for nose and cheek injuries, police said. The blow was witnessed by a Lawrence police officer who was on duty in the area and arrested Randle without incident, police said.
Randle was booked into the Douglas County Jail at 2:46 a.m. Sunday, according to the jail log. Sunday night he was still in jail, and no bond had been set. He is scheduled to have a first appearance hearing at 3:30 p.m. today in Douglas County District Court.
Randle’s arrest coincided with the start of spring practice for the football team. Associate Athletic Director Jim Marchiony said the athletic department would have no comment about Randle until more information was known.
Randle was arrested in a domestic battery incident in November 2003, but the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office decided not to file charges after reviewing the case. In April 2004 Randle was ordered by a Lawrence Municipal Court judge to serve two days in jail for attempted theft, disorderly conduct and having a fake driver’s license. The charges stemmed from earlier incidents outside a downtown dance hall and at a convenience store.
Lawrence Police are investigating a Saturday night fight involving a Kansas University football player that sent one man to the hospital.
Austine Nwabuisi, 21, a junior KU running back last season, suffered facial injuries when he was hit with a beer bottle in the fight, according to a police report.
Another victim, Alvin Harris, 39, Harveyville, also suffered facial injuries when he was struck in the face by a man, according to the report. He was taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. A hospital spokeswoman said he was treated and released.
An investigation is continuing and no arrests have been made, a police spokesman said today.
The fight took place about 11 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of West 11th Street in the downtown area, police said. It began when words were exchanged between Harris and people he was with and a group of men Nwabuisi was with, police said.
Harris told police that derogatory comments were made toward his daughter, who was accompanying him. Others at the scene claimed Harris started the fight, police said.
Police would not identify others at the scene who were witnesses or who might have been involved in the incident.
For more on this story, see the 6News reports at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband’s channel 6.
Kansas University football player Algie Atkinson signed a diversion agreement with Douglas County prosecutors on Thursday.
Atkinson was charged with misdemeanor purchase/consumption of alcohol by a minor on April 12. Atkinson pleaded not guilty on May 12.
Standard conditions for this diversion are 10 hours of community service, a $200 fine and attending an alcohol information school, all within a six-month period.
Atkinson is a junior outside linebacker from Skokie, Ill.
