Appalachian State University football player Alexander Gray was charged with assault on a female Thursday.
The free safety was arrested for the assault of his girlfriend with a closed fist, according to the police report. The assault resulted in broken bones for the victim and required medical attention.
Boone police officer James Lyall met Gray and team liaison Johnny Reese in the parking lot of the Watauga County Magistrate’s office on Thursday in response to warrants on Gray, according to the police report. Gray was then charged with assault on a female and brought before Watauga County Magistrate David Gales and submitted a written promise to appear in court Jan. 21.
Gray has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities with the football program, head coach Scott Satterfield said in a statement Tuesday.
“The charges against Alex are very serious and the behavior outlined in those charges is not something that we condone or tolerate from the young men in our program,” Satterfield said in the statement. “At this time, we’re going to allow the legal process to run its course. When we learn more from legal authorities as they complete that process, we will determine if any additional discipline is appropriate from the athletics department and the football program.”
Satterfield is on the road recruiting and not available for any further comment, according to a statement from athletics.
Gray, a native of Suwanee, Ga., was redshirted in 2012 and started all 12 games this season for Appalachian recording 73 tackles, which was the second most on the team.
For Peachtree Ridge High School, Gray had 57 tackles and an interception and was given first team all-region and all-county recognition as a senior while leading the team to an 8-3 record and a state playoff appearance.
This is the second assault charge on an Appalachian football player this season. Former wide receiver Sean Price was arrested on charges of felony assault by strangulation in October, according to an Oct. 14 article in The Appalachian.
Story: CORY SPIERS, Sports Editor, and STEPHANIE SANSOUCY, News Editor