Notre Dame football reserve Will Mahone suspended after arrest
The star-crossed football career of Notre Dame junior wide receiver Will Mahone took another ill-fated turn Sunday.
This time, the damage appears to be self-inflicted.
The Irish reserve from Austintown, Ohio, was arrested Sunday night in his home county, per Mahoning County Sheriff Department documents. He faces five charges, three of which are considered felonies in the state of Ohio.
The felony charges are assault of a police officer, intimidation of a public servant/party official and vandalism of a government entity. He also was charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Mahone, 20, is being held at the Mahoning County Justice Center. He was arraigned Monday afternoon in Mahoning County Court in Austintown. A judge set bond at $75,000 cash or surety.
The judge entered a not guilty plea on Mahone's behalf for the misdemeanor charges, but Ohio does not allow the judge to enter a not guilty plea for felonies. His next court appearance would be a pretrial hearing at 6:30 p.m. July 7.
Mahone will be allowed to attend classes at Notre Dame, according to docket information.
As to his future with the Irish football team, school officials issued the following statement Monday afternoon: "University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly has suspended junior wide receiver Will Mahone indefinitely from all football-related activities."
According to the police report filed by the Austintown Police Department, officers arrived on the scene about 10:30 p.m. Sunday after being called to respond to a fight. Officers observed about 20 people in the street pointing to a driveway on the north side of Rita Avenue.
Some of them told police Mahone was highly intoxicated and head-butting and punching vehicles as well as trying to fight several people.
Police say an officer advised Mahone to calm down and get on the ground, to which Mahone responded with, “(Expletive), white boy.” Police say an officer then took Mahone to the ground, but he repeatedly resisted arrest.
Once Mahone finally was able to be handcuffed, police claim, he responded, “(Expletive), you white piece of (expletive). Takes these cuffs off and I’ll kill you. I’ll (expletive) kill you.”
As Mahone was being led to the cruiser, police allege, he began to scream and shout and tried to pull away. Mahone is further accused of whipping his head back in an aggressive manner, striking a police officer on his forehead.
Police accuse Mahone of trying to kick police after they again took him to the ground. At that point, an officer drive-stunned Mahone to gain compliance. As he was being taken to the cruiser, Mahone is accused of continually yelling, “Take these cuffs off, and I’ll kill all of you.”
Once placed in the cruiser, Mahone allegedly violently kicked the window in the back seat of the cruiser and had to be drive-stunned again. While police were outside interviewing witnesses, Mahone allegedly began to spit on the windows and the seats of the cruiser, at which time a spit net was applied over Mahone’s head.
When Mahone was told he was being transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Austintown to have a laceration on his left eye examined, Mahone allegedly responded, “Good, get me out of these cuffs and I’ll kill you and all them bitches there.”
As the behavior escalated, the officer rerouted to Mahoning County Justice Center for incarceration. Mahone is accused of then stating to the officer, ‘Bro, when I get out, I got a Glock 9 for your (expletive),” referring to a handgun.
When Mahone arrived at the justice center, he was seen by medical staff and refused admittance. He was then transported to St. Elizabeth’s, where he was escorted to the emergency room for observation.
There he allegedly continued to scream obscenities at officers and hospital staff. He then was taken to MCJC for incarceration.
Mahone’s on-field career at Notre Dame has been limited to two cameos last season, against Purdue and Michigan State. The 5-foot-11, 214-pounder began his college career as a running back before he moved to slot receiver. But he hasn’t found traction at either spot in part because of a string of injuries, in part because of a crowded depth chart.
His practices this past spring were wiped out by a fractured right foot that required surgery March 6. Irish head coach Brian Kelly noted last week that Mahone was healthy and had rejoined the team for summer workouts.
Now he’s in limbo – again.
In addition to legal consequences, Mahone likely will have to go in front of ND’s Office of Community Standards, the school’s disciplinary arm and formerly called the Office of Residence Life.
EHansen@SBTinfo.com
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Twitter: @hansenNDInsider
