LSU football coach Les Miles dismissed reserve linebackers Derrick Odom III and Jeremy Benton from the team Wednesday afternoon because of their alleged involvement in an altercation early Friday morning at the Varsity Theatre.
Sophomore backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, also linked to the incident and identified in the initial police report as “the most confrontational” patron, remains on the team but will not travel to the Alabama game because of missed practice time, Miles said.
The Baton Rouge Police Department charged Odom on Wednesday with simple criminal damage to property in connection to the Varsity fight. The arrest is Odom’s third since August. Perrilloux and Benton were not charged, and BRPD announced through a release that the investigation is closed.
Odom allegedly returned to the Varsity on foot with two men about an hour after the initial fight and smashed an SUV’s window. Police say he was identified in surveillance tapes because of his clothing and build, although his face was covered with a hood or bandanna.
“From the press release, I learned that the police based the charge on the video, and from the video, I don’t think he’s guilty of anything,” said Anthony Bertucci, Odom’s attorney.
Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette said Wednesday he thought Benton was at the scene of the fight. Bonnette said he was unaware of his specific actions. Benton, a junior, was not charged in the police report or mentioned in BRPD’s release.
“That’s my first time even hearing his name,” BRPD Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said of Benton.
Nathan Fisher, who represents Perrilloux, said his client is “relieved” the investigation is closed.
According to the police report, a Varsity employee told an off-duty police officer that a man he thought was Perrilloux pointed a gun at him and his girlfriend shortly after the original fight. The employee did not report the incident until 24 hours later and failed to identify Perrilloux in a photo line-up. The employee and his girlfriend later told police they did not want to continue talking to police about the incident.
“The evidence of innocence was overwhelming,” Fisher said.
Fisher said he has no plans of releasing the surveillance tape to the public. Miles said at Wednesday’s press conference that he wants to review the tape.
Miles said he has no plans to further discipline Perrilloux.
“This incident appears to have winded down,” Miles said Wednesday. “Certainly, our involvement is not to be condoned. I think there are a number of people at fault here … certainly some of our guys.”
Miles previously suspended Odom and Perrilloux for other incidents.
Perrilloux was suspended in May after BRPD cited him for attempting to enter a casino without proper identification.
Miles originally suspended Odom, a redshirt freshman, in late August after charges of simple assault, attempted unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling and two counts of simple criminal damage to property. Miles extended Odom’s suspension after he was arrested in September for allegedly damaging a car in the West Campus Apartments.
Miles defended the decision to keep Odom on the team after his first two arrests.
“I think he understands that he needs to weigh his decisions very seriously from this point forward,” Miles told The Daily Reveille on Sept. 19.
In the spring, Miles dismissed LSU football players Troy Giddens, Zhamal Thomas and Kyle Anderson from the team after each was arrested on criminal charges.
—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]