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No further disciplinary action taken on Georgia players


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/03/08

Athens — Police and Georgia coach Mark Richt were left Sunday to clean up the collateral damage of a wild weekend of partying that left one current and one former football player arrested, two other players hospitalized and yet another one suspected of criminal damage to property.

No other suspensions were announced Sunday afternoon as the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs officially reported to campus for preseason practice. Practices start Monday afternoon.

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The maximum of 105 players checked into Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall on Sunday as expected. Snapper Jeff Henson and safety Donavon Baldwin were not among them. Richt suspended both indefinitely late Saturday night for their involvement in weekend incidents that attracted police attention.

Henson, who was arrested for DUI last November and missed the Sugar Bowl as punishment, was arrested by Athens-Clarke County for public intoxication and urinating in public sometime after 1 a.m. Saturday. According to police reports, another charge against Henson could be forthcoming.

While Henson was being taken into custody, an individual approached and told police Henson had punched him in the face a short time earlier at the bar On The Rocks. Police said Joshua Hamilton Boatwright's left eye appeared red and slightly swollen. An ambulance was called to the scene and Boatwright was advised of procedures for filing warrants. None had been filed as of Sunday evening.

At about the same time, Baldwin was smashed in the head with a beer bottle at The Library, a popular downtown bar on East Clayton Street. Teammate Marcus Dowtin, a freshman linebacker from Maryland, was also hit with a bottle during an altercation at the bar and both players were taken to St. Mary's Hospital. Baldwin was already suspended for one game after being charged with DUI in January. As of Sunday afternoon, no disciplinary measures had been announced for Dowtin.

While Baldwin and Dowtin were being treated at the hospital, their former teammate Michael Lemon was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol. Lemon, 20, who was dismissed from the team last month after being charged with aggravated battery, was identified by hospital security as the person seen kicking over trash cans.

Baldwin and Dowtin's condition is unknown.

According to police, three other Georgia players were interviewed as witnesses, including freshman tailback Caleb King, sophomore linebacker Akeem Dent and former player Antavious Coates. King was described as being agitated and uncooperative and accused Officer Gene Davis of "just wanting to get players in trouble."

Coates and Dent, the officer reported, "were the most respectful and helpful."

Originally, a person whom police believed might be a player was seen on security cameras damaging a parking control device and four large pots and was being sought for criminal damage to property. Described only as "a black male wearing khaki pants," that person left the scene.

However, Athens-Clarke County police Capt. Clarence Holeman said Sunday that the hospital — which contracts with the Georgia Athletic Association to provide medical care — will not pursue charges because "arrangements have been made to take care of the damage."

Meanwhile, Holeman said A-CC detectives would be seeking a warrant for aggravated assault against the person or persons who injured Baldwin and Dowtin.

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