ASU players arrested after fights
DL Parker kicked off team, remains jailed
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 30, 2003
Arizona State defensive lineman Rickey Parker was dismissed from the team Tuesday and fellow defensive lineman Nick Johnson is facing possible punishment after both players were arrested in separate but related incidents at their Tempe apartment.
Parker is facing a Class 3 felony count of aggravated assault with a knife after another roommate, who is not a
football player, and witnesses told police that Parker swung a butcher knife at him early Monday. Parker remained in jail Tuesday night on bond of $2,700.
The police call came about 6 a.m. Monday, just a little more than an hour after Tempe police had been there for a fight between Parker and Johnson. In the early incident, Johnson was arrested on misdemeanor counts of assault and criminal damage.
"Rickey Parker has been dismissed from the football team for repeated violations of team, department and university policies," ASU coach Dirk Koetter said. "Nick Johnson's status will be evaluated pending the outcome of the legal process."
This summer, Parker was suspended for a team rule violation. His status was in question to the point that he is not listed in the team's media guide.
Johnson, a Chandler High graduate, was a freshman last year but played regularly at defensive end. He faces up to six months in jail, a $2,500 fine and three years' probation for each misdemeanor.
The calls to the unit in the 1200 block of East Spence Avenue began just after 5 a.m. Monday when Parker called police after a fight with Johnson. The Tempe police report indicates that Johnson was banging on the door and window for Parker to open the door at 4 a.m. and again about 4:45 a.m. When Parker finally let in Johnson and his girlfriend, the two argued over rent that Parker owed.
Parker told police that Johnson grabbed a knife, so he retreated to his room. Neither of the other roommates, including ASU teammate Zach Krula, nor two other friends present confirmed that Johnson had a knife. All witnesses agreed that Johnson then broke down Parker's door and the two fought without weapons. A roommate who does not play football, 150-pound Paul Alvarez, attempted to break up the fight.
Parker left the apartment and called police. Johnson was later released by a city judge on his own recognizance. About 10 minutes after Johnson's arrest, Parker returned to the apartment for the start of a second incident.
He asked Krula and the two visiting friends where Alvarez was and went back to his bedroom, the witnesses told police. When he returned, they said he held a butcher knife in the air.
Alvarez, Krula and the two friends fled the apartment. Alvarez and the witnesses said Parker made a stabbing motion at Alvarez that came within about 2 feet.
Alvarez, who had lived at the apartment for two months, ran away but returned to find his friends, then drove to the police station.
In an unrelated team matter, Koetter said defensive end and Tempe High graduate Jared Wolfgramm left the program before the end of the spring semester. His departure was not related to discipline.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/...ufoot0730.html
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