Georgia Tech football player Jalen Johnson, who was suspended Wednesday following his arrest on Sunday for simple battery, had a role in an alleged altercation at a Tech fraternity house, according to a police incident report. Johnson’s high-school coach questions what that role was, however.
The narrative on the Georgia Tech police report stated that the arresting officer was approached by a group of males at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house early Sunday “with injuries to their faces and head stating that they had been punched by two individuals.”
The report charges Johnson with simple battery and Donavaughn Campbell, an LSU freshman football player who is the brother of Tech redshirt freshman Christian Campbell, with battery. Christian Campbell, who was also suspended Wednesday, was not named on the report.
According to the Georgia code, the charge of simple battery covers a person who “intentionally makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature” or “intentionally causes physical harm.” A person is guilty of battery when he or she “intentionally causes substantial physical harm or visible bodily harm to another.”
Don Jacobs, Johnson’s high-school coach in Oneonta, Ala., said he was confident that his former player will be cleared of wrongdoing. Jacobs said he based his confidence on conversations with Johnson and high-school teammates of his who were at the party and his knowledge of Johnson.
“Could I be wrong?” Jacobs asked. “I could be wrong, but I’d be willing to bet a paycheck on it.”
Out of a desire to not interfere with the campus investigation, Jacobs did want to go into detail about what he had been told, but said he believes that Johnson was acting as a peacemaker. Jacobs coached Johnson all four of his high-school seasons and described him as a good student who has served the community in Oneonta.
“He’s a good kid,” Jacobs said. “The truth is going to come out soon.”
Christian Campbell and Johnson are suspended from games pending completion of an investigation into the incident by the school’s Office of Student Integrity. School officials cannot comment on the investigation or the disciplinary actions because of federal privacy restrictions.
The victim and complainant in the report did not respond Thursday to requests for comment.
Tech plays at North Carolina on Saturday. Johnson and Campbell are both backup safeties who largely play special-teams roles.
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