http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2013/04/lsu_rb_jeremy_hill_punched_vic.html


A cell phone video shows LSU running back Jeremy Hill punching a man from behind and then celebrating with high fives when a second unidentified man knocked the victim out with another punch, according to a Baton Rouge Police report on the incident.

Hill, 20, LSU's leading rusher last season was arrested for simple battery early Saturday morning after the fight, which occurred outside Reggie's, an off-campus bar in Tigerland. He was suspended indefinitely by LSU Coach Les Miles, the school announced Monday.

The second suspect has not been identified but police are continuing to search for him. Hill has not been formally charged by the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's office.

The victim, Connor Baldridge, told Baton Rouge Police officer Clifford Crouch he was struck in the head two or three times and remembers waking up on the ground after Crouch arrived on the scene at approximately 2:13 a.m., according to the report.

Crouch watched a video provided by witness Casey Franz, who recorded the incident on his cell phone. In the report, Crouch says the video clearly shows Baldridge get up off the ground and walk away from the two suspects. Hill then punched Baldridge behind the left ear and Baldridge was then punched again by the second suspect, Crouch said in the report.

Hill and the second man can be seen in the video giving each other high fives and flaunting in front of Baldridge, the report says. The video operator can be heard saying "Jeremy Hill punching people."

With assistance from LSU campus police, Crouch located Hill near his residence at the West Campus Apartments and arrested him. Hill admitted he had been in Tigerland but was not involved in the fight. Hill continued to deny his participation in the incident even after being shown the video.

Hill's attorney, Marci Blaize, did not return calls to NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, but she told the Advocate in an email that, "Obviously, Jeremy was there as the video indicates. However, there is most likely more to the story than what is contained in a 30-second video." Blaize's email also said she was still gathering information.

Baton Rouge Police are still searching for the second man, who may be charged with felony second degree battery, according to the police report.

Hill posted a $500 bond and was released from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison at 11 a.m. Saturday, but the incident could land him back behind bars and could jeopardize his season because of a two-year probation he is serving. He rushed for 752 yards and 12 touchdowns last season as a freshman.

Hill and Avery Tate pleaded guilty to misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile in January of 2012. The two, then students at Redemptorist High School, were arrested for engaging in a sexual act with a 14-year-old girl in the school locker room in December of 2010. Both were given suspended six-month prison terms and put on active supervised probation for two years with the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office. A condition of the probation was that he refrain from all criminal conduct, The Advocate reported.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said police are still looking for the second suspect.

Moore said the charge against Hill could be upgraded but is "probably appropriate for simple battery." He also said Hill could be called, this week or next, before District Judge Bonnie Jackson, who granted the probation in the first trial, for a review of the probation terms.

"It's her call but I think that's what's going to happen," Moore said.

Moore said Jackson might follow standard procedure of waiting for the newer case to develop and be resolved.

"He's presumed innocent, obviously," Moore said. "She will probably wait and see what happens before a decision on revocation (of probation) or not.

"I haven't received all the reports yet. I have a general idea of what happened and I've looked at the video."

Former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson was sent back to prison under a similar situation. Jefferson had a pending charge of simple battery from the Shady's barfight incident when he was arrested for simple possession of marijuana last October. At a discovery hearing, presiding District Judge Chip Moore ordered Jefferson back to prison for violation of the bond condition for the first arrest.

Jefferson then pleaded guilty to the first charge and was released. The possession charge is pending. Moore said "different judges rule different ways."

Hill's suspension was the fourth time in the past year an LSU player has been suspended. Miles twice suspended punter Brad Wing for positive drug tests and kicked star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu off the team last August for multiple failed drug tests.

In August of 2011, quarterback Jefferson and linebacker Josh Johns were suspended for their roles in the Shady's barfight. Later that season, Mathieu, running back Spencer Ware and cornerback Tharold Simon served a one-game suspension for positive drug tests.





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