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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Police are continuing to investigate an early morning bar brawl Friday allegedly involving a number of Tennessee football players that left an off-duty Knoxville police officer unconscious after being kicked repeatedly while he was on the ground.
Freshman receiver Da'Rick Rogers, one of the Volunteers' most heralded signees under first-year coach Derek Dooley, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
Also, sophomore safety Darren Myles Jr. was arrested and charged with assaulting a University of Tennessee police officer, as well as resisting arrest and evading arrest, according to an affidavit.
Rogers, 18, was released on $1,000 bond later Friday morning, and Myles, 19, was released on $2,000 bond. It was not clear if either player had an attorney.
DeBusk said he anticipates there will be more arrests once police are able to speak with Knoxville Police Department officer Robert Capouellez, who remains in a Knoxville hospital and is undergoing treatment for a head wound.
A second victim, whose name has not been released, also was sent to the hospital and was being treated for multiple injuries.
Debusk said Capouellez, 24, was hit in the head while trying to break up a fight in Bar Knoxville, which is located on the Cumberland Avenue strip near campus. The fight had spilled outside, and Capouellez was knocked to the ground and kicked more than once before the suspect ran away.
"We've heard that anywhere from seven to 10 people were involved in the incident inside the bar, and we believe the majority of them are associated with the UT football team," DeBusk said.
Police have reached out to Dooley, who was out of town. A school spokeswoman said a statement from the university would be released later Friday.
An affidavit regarding Myles' arrest stated that a university officer identified himself to Myles at Bar Knoxville, after which Myles fled on foot.
When the officer caught up to Myles and attempted to place him into custody, Myles broke free from the officer's grip and struck him in the face. Myles was later taken into custody by the Knoxville Police Department, which turned him over to university police.
This is the second time Myles has been in trouble. A projected starter this coming season, Myles was charged April 18 with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and public intoxication following an incident at another nightspot near campus. Dooley handled Myles' punishment for that arrest internally, though that criminal case is still pending.
Among the other Tennessee players police have questioned or plan to question in connection with the brawl are defensive tackle Montori Hughes, receiver Denarius Moore and safety Janzen Jackson. None of the three has been charged.
The Vols may end up having more than just legal problems, too. Sandy Morton, co-owner of Bar Knoxville, told The Chattanooga Times Free Press that the Tennessee football players received "VIP status" at their bar and didn't have to pay a cover.
NCAA rules stipulate that athletes aren't allowed to receive any extra benefits or special arrangements such as discounts at restaurants or bars.
Morton also told The Times Free Press that they typically don't have any issues when the Tennessee football players come in, but on this occasion, they had a problem with another patron at the bar.
"I don't know what happened, but several of the guys started beating up the other customer," Morton said. "I want to guess there was seven to 10 guys beating up this one gentleman. All the security then rushed in and were trying to break it up. My husband saw them picking up bar stools and starting to swing them. We got them out the door with security."
Freshman receiver Da'Rick Rogers, one of the Volunteers' most heralded signees under first-year coach Derek Dooley, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
Also, sophomore safety Darren Myles Jr. was arrested and charged with assaulting a University of Tennessee police officer, as well as resisting arrest and evading arrest, according to an affidavit.
Rogers, 18, was released on $1,000 bond later Friday morning, and Myles, 19, was released on $2,000 bond. It was not clear if either player had an attorney.
DeBusk said he anticipates there will be more arrests once police are able to speak with Knoxville Police Department officer Robert Capouellez, who remains in a Knoxville hospital and is undergoing treatment for a head wound.
A second victim, whose name has not been released, also was sent to the hospital and was being treated for multiple injuries.
Debusk said Capouellez, 24, was hit in the head while trying to break up a fight in Bar Knoxville, which is located on the Cumberland Avenue strip near campus. The fight had spilled outside, and Capouellez was knocked to the ground and kicked more than once before the suspect ran away.
"We've heard that anywhere from seven to 10 people were involved in the incident inside the bar, and we believe the majority of them are associated with the UT football team," DeBusk said.
Police have reached out to Dooley, who was out of town. A school spokeswoman said a statement from the university would be released later Friday.
An affidavit regarding Myles' arrest stated that a university officer identified himself to Myles at Bar Knoxville, after which Myles fled on foot.
When the officer caught up to Myles and attempted to place him into custody, Myles broke free from the officer's grip and struck him in the face. Myles was later taken into custody by the Knoxville Police Department, which turned him over to university police.
This is the second time Myles has been in trouble. A projected starter this coming season, Myles was charged April 18 with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and public intoxication following an incident at another nightspot near campus. Dooley handled Myles' punishment for that arrest internally, though that criminal case is still pending.
Among the other Tennessee players police have questioned or plan to question in connection with the brawl are defensive tackle Montori Hughes, receiver Denarius Moore and safety Janzen Jackson. None of the three has been charged.
The Vols may end up having more than just legal problems, too. Sandy Morton, co-owner of Bar Knoxville, told The Chattanooga Times Free Press that the Tennessee football players received "VIP status" at their bar and didn't have to pay a cover.
NCAA rules stipulate that athletes aren't allowed to receive any extra benefits or special arrangements such as discounts at restaurants or bars.
Morton also told The Times Free Press that they typically don't have any issues when the Tennessee football players come in, but on this occasion, they had a problem with another patron at the bar.
"I don't know what happened, but several of the guys started beating up the other customer," Morton said. "I want to guess there was seven to 10 guys beating up this one gentleman. All the security then rushed in and were trying to break it up. My husband saw them picking up bar stools and starting to swing them. We got them out the door with security."
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