Butler’s future at Notre Dame just became a little more clear on Tuesday as the St.Joseph County prosecutors formally charged him with two felonies, one count of resisting law enforcement, the other count of battery of a police officer.
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“In making this announcement it is important to stress that all of the players involved in these two incidents remain subject to justice system and University discipline, and those processes could yet impact their standing with the University and the team”, he added. Safety Max Redfield was dismissed from the team and among three of those players charged with misdemeanor possession of a gun without a license.
In the case of Butler, South Bend police were called to the Linebacker at around midnight Friday night/Saturday morning for reports of a fight between patrons and security. The Crimson Tide received 33 of 61 first-place votes in the AP’s preseason poll to edge second-ranked Clemson, which lost 45-40 to Alabama in January’s College Football Playoff championship game. Perhaps Notre Dame should have told their players that the M in team doesn’t stand for “marijuana arrest”. Michigan State is ranked 12th. As officers tried to detain Butler, he pushed one officer and then tackled him and began striking him and pulled off his duty belt, the affidavit says. Officers observed Butler forcibly shove the woman by her head and body, causing her to move 3 to 4 feet.
The five other players were arrested Friday night after Indiana State Police said a trooper stopped a auto in Fulton County about 35 miles south of South Bend for speeding.
Notre Dame announced on Sunday that Butler had been indefinitely suspended.
The five footballers were taken to Fulton County Jail. Redfield has been a starter at safety the past two seasons, notes ESPN. Coney is a backup linebacker, White is a reserve defensive back and Stephenson is a freshman wide receiver. Butler was expected to compete for a full-time starting role this offseason, but he refractured his foot over the summer, an injury that left his health status for 2016 unclear. The university will determine if additional sanctions should apply to any or all of the students charged.
From a football perspective, Kelly’s decision will hurt the Irish secondary.
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Butler, originally from Washington D.C.is a senior at Notre Dame and plays cornerback for the Fighting Irish.
