LSUPD arrested three students – including an LSU football player – Saturday for fighting during a basketball tournament at the University Recreation Center.
LSUPD arrested Alfred Jones Jr., history freshman of 5102 Easterlyn Circle, New Orleans, Johnathan Spear, kinesiology freshman of 4445 Alvin Dark Apt. 194, and Artis Wilson II, biochemistry senior of 4445 Alvin Dark Apt. 194, at 2 p.m. for disturbing the peace by fistic encounter, according to Maj. Helen Haire, LSUPD spokeswoman.
There were seven to eight students involved with the fight, but Haire said some of the participants left before officers arrived.
Jones, who prefers to be called Rahim Alem, plays defensive end and signed with the football team in 2005.
Officers responded to a call from University Recreation employees after they broke up a fight between members of two teams participating in a three-on-three basketball tournament hosted by Pi Sigma Epsilon, Haire said.
Jones, who did not participate in the basketball tournament but was in the URec at the time, said the team playing his friends started the initial fight, and he and his friends “retaliated.”
Before officers could arrive at the Rec, Haire said, friends of three participants in the initial fight, including Jones, started a second fight.
Haire said witnesses told officers that seven or eight men surrounded the members of the other team.
EMS treated the victims on the scene, Haire said.
Michael Bonnette, sports information director, said at this point he does not know if there will be disciplinary action taken by the athletic department against Jones because football coach Les Miles is out of town recruiting.
Bonnette said Miles will gather information about the incident and then decide whether action within the team should be taken.
“If [Jones] has done something wrong, [Miles] will handle it within the confines of the team and try to make sure these things don’t happen again,” Bonnette said.
Melissa Longino, director of marketing and public relations for URec, said URec has filed all the necessary paper work about the incident with LSUPD and the dean of students.
“University Recreation does not tolerate violence or aggressive behavior,” Longino said.
 
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