OTH Staff Report: Men’s Basketball Players Possibly Involved in Assault
Some really bad news out of Olean this morning as OTH beat writer J.P. Butler and other staff members reported that two men’s basketball players are being investigated in a potential assault case (against a female student) that occured outside the OP early Sunday morning. We heard rumors as early as Sunday morning that there was an incident late Saturday night outside the OP and that players were involved. We waited and learned more and more as the day went on. Still, in these cases it’s so hard to know what’s fact and what’s fiction so we stayed away from the story until now. Butler has done some real journalist work and presented a story with information via the police report.
This is bad news for the female involved, the players in question as well as the university and team. With violence against women such a hot issue in this country right now this matter should not be, and will not be taken lightly. If players put their hands on a girl in a violent or unwanted way they are going to pay the price; as they should.
From a basketball standpoint (not to be insensitive) this incident is still developing but for a team that is already short on players Schmidt and company cannot afford to lose anyone else the rest of the way. Yes, we do know the names of those players who are alleged to be involved but will not release those names. If this team loses another two players Schmidt would need an act of God to reach ten wins. Again, this story is developing and both the police as well as the university are trying to gather further information. I will say we may find out some more details tonight around game time if anyone is held out of the lineup but that remains to be seen. SBU always keeps these issues close to the vest.
Here is the start of Butler’s story, click this link here to read the entire report. Good job as always by JP to be on-top of the story and to handle it while walking the fine line of reporting the news and being fair to the victim and the accused in this case. He does an excellent job.
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LLEGANY — Two St. Bonaventure University men’s basketball players are under investigation in the alleged assault of a female student in the parking lot of a West Main Street bar early Sunday.
The incident in the parking lot behind The Other Place, 91 W. Main St., occurred about 1:25 a.m. Sunday, according to an incident report provided by Allegany police.
The 22-year-old woman, who was not identified by authorities, was taken by ambulance to Olean General Hospital, where she reportedly was treated for a head injury, bruises and abrasions and was released.
The report states: “At time of incident, (she) wasn’t sure about pressing charges. She will contact (police) if she decides to.”
