The first off-the-field incident of the summer happened over the weekend as reserve wide receiver Will Mahone was arrested early Sunday morning in his hometown. The Mahoning County Sheriff public records revealed five counts against Mahone, some of which are very serious.
Notre Dame released a comment on Monday, though Mahone’s status with the team is murky:
“The University is aware of this incident and is confident that it will be handled in a prompt and professional manner through the criminal justice system,” the statement said. “Internal discipline is handled privately, in accord with our own policies and federal law.”
According to Eric Hansen of the South Bend Tribune, officers arrived around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night after being called to respond to a fight. From there, things don’t sound like they went too well.According to the police report filed by the Austintown Police Department, officers arrived on the scene about 10:30 p.m., Saturday after being called to respond to a fight. Officers observed about 20 people in the street pointing to a driveway on the north side of Rita Avenue.
Some of them told police Mahone was highly intoxicated and head-butting and punching vehicles as well as trying to fight several people.
Police say an officer advised Mahone to calm down and get on the ground, to which Mahone responded with, “(Expletive), white boy.” Police say an officer then took Mahone to the ground, but he repeatedly resisted arrest.
Once Mahone finally was able to be handcuffed, police claim, he responded, “(Expletive), you white piece of (expletive). Takes these cuffs off and I’ll kill you. I’ll (expletive) kill you.”
As Mahone was being led to the cruiser, police allege, he began to scream and shout and tried to pull away. Mahone is further accused of whipping his head back in an aggressive manor, striking a police officer on his forehead.
None of these details sound particularly good for Mahone’s future in South Bend, though they should hardly be taken as gospel. It wasn’t too long ago that Tommy Rees and Carlo Calabrese were taken in by local police with some hairy charges that eventually shrunk down to misdemeanor charges and community service.
On the field, Mahone has yet to make an impact for the Irish after entering as a four-star recruit in 2012. He was buried on the depth chart after a redshirt season as the Irish’s sixth running back before shifting to the slot. Any progress he made at receiver was short-circuited by a high-ankle sprain last season and a broken foot this spring.