The University of Illinois has confirmed that another member of its men's basketball team was arrested for a violent offense. Jaylon Tate, a junior guard, was arrested early Saturday morning and booked in county jail on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery.
Leron Black, another Illinois guard, was arrested about a month ago for pulling a knife on a bouncer who was trying to remove him from a club in Urbana, Ill. Black was charged with a Class 4 felony of aggravated assault.
Sgt. Bruce Ramseyer confirmed that Champaign Police answered a 911 call at 1:40 a.m. Saturday morning. The police said that a 19-year-old female UI student-athlete accused Tate of punching her once in the face, but they did not give any further details. Police arrested Tate without incident.
Ramseyer said that a friend of the victim called 911, but it is not clear how much time elapsed between the incident and the call. He said that he noticed swelling of the victim's face and an open wound in her mouth, which was causing her to spit blood.
Tate is expected to post bond and is scheduled to make a court appearance Sunday morning, though he will not leave county jail until then. He denied hitting the female.
Joint statement from Illinois AD Josh Whitman and men's basketball coach John Groce on Jaylon Tate arrest. pic.twitter.com/1P9fLamowl
— Scott Richey (@srrichey) March 12, 2016
"We are aware of the allegations against men's basketball student-athlete Jaylon Tate," Illinois head men's basketball coach John Groce and UI athletic director Josh Whitman said in a joint statement. "Tate has been indefinitely suspended from all team activities pending legal proceedings and an investigation into the allegations. It is important that we take time to fully understand the events of last evening before passing judgment. We condemn domestic violence in all its forms and will move swiftly and decisively if these allegations are substantiated."
Before Tate and Black were suspended from the UI men's basketball team, Groce dismissed forward Darius Paul in August after he was arrested during the team's trip to France. Local authorities charged him with public intoxication, vandalism and resisting arrest.
Tate's arrest came hours after Illinois was blown out of the Big Ten Tournament with an 89-58 loss to Purdue. Tate played 19 minutes off the bench and scored three points.
