A Kansas University football player was arrested early Saturday, accused of carrying a fake ID, misdemeanor battery on a law enforcement officer and obstruction before he posted bond Sunday evening.
Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said his office is reviewing whether to file formal charges against Cooper Kerns, an 18-year-old freshman offensive lineman from Leawood who graduated from Rockhurst High School in Missouri. After he posted $500 bond, Kerns was given a notice to appear at 3 p.m. Sept. 19 in Douglas County District Court.
“We’re aware of the situation, and we will handle the matter internally,” KU coach Turner Gill said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. Jim Marchiony, an associate KU athletic director, said Kerns is redshirting this season. He is also a walk-on player not on athletic scholarship.
According to Douglas County Jail records, Kerns was booked just before 2 a.m. Saturday at the jail after he was arrested by a Lawrence police officer in the 400 block of West 14th Street.
Sgt. Matt Sarna, a Lawrence police spokesman, said Kerns was accused of striking a Lawrence officer in the face with his arm after he pulled away from the officer who was attempting to arrest him. Sarna said the officer minutes earlier observed Kerns urinating in the alley in the 1300 block of Ohio Street and that Kerns did not produce any identification when asked. After a brief foot chase, Kerns was taken in to custody and found to be in possession of a driver’s license that did not belong to him, Sarna said. The officer did not require any medical attention.
According to jail records, prosecutors last weekend opted not to file a charge in connection with the fake ID allegation, but Branson said Tuesday it will be reviewed again before Kerns’ first appearance scheduled for Sept. 19.