NEW ORLEANS — LSU leading running back Jeremy Hill, already on probation in connection with a 2011 arrest, was arrested again early Saturday morning after allegedly punching another man in the side of the head outside a Baton Rouge bar near campus.
Hill, who pleaded guilty in January 2012 to misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile, is now charged with simple battery, also a misdemeanor, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore said.
Moore said it was too early to speculate on how the latest arrest might affect Hill’s probation, and that it was not yet clear whether he’d be charged in city court or state district court.
“When we get a copy of the report we’ll take a look, and if we feel the need to take appropriate action in court, we will, but that will be driven by the facts, and again, he’s presumed innocent,” Moore said. “Assuming he’s found guilty, which is a big assumption, then obviously he’d be in violation of his probation.”
Baton Rouge Police Lt. Don Kelly, the department spokesman, and LSU officials could not immediately say whether Hill had an attorney, and Hill could not immediately be reached for comment.
LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette said coach Les Miles was at the NFL draft in New York on Saturday and would not comment until he returned to Baton Rouge and spoke with Hill. Miles was due to fly home on Saturday night.
Hill, 20, was LSU’s leading rusher with 755 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012, his freshman season. His college career was delayed a year after he was arrested in early 2011 for an alleged sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was able to enroll at LSU and play football last season, emerging as the Tigers most effective running back after season-opening starter Alfred Blue’s season-ending knee injury in LSU’s third game.
Kelly said police responded at 2:15 a.m. to a call regarding a 20-year-old man who said he was knocked out in a fight in a parking lot. A witness who had made a video recording with his mobile phone also contacted police and shared the recording. Kelly said the recording showed a man that appears to be Hill punching the victim, who was then punched again, and knocked to the ground by a second suspect whom police have not yet identified, and who remains at large.
Police found Hill on campus and arrested him.
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