Braden Jones, 21, was arrested at the Northwestern football game Saturday night. The Weinberg junior is charged with two counts of battery, police said.
Two contracted security officers directed Jones to leave the student section of Ryan Field during the NU-Ohio State game at about 10:30 p.m., after they received complaints that Jones was being disorderly, said Asst. Chief Daniel McAleer of University Police.
The officers tried to escort Jones, a former NU player, from the stands after he ignored verbal directions, McAleer said.
Jones tried to push away from the officers and became “combative,” McAleer said. He said Jones tried to hit one of the officers and elbowed the other in the face.
The two officers, along with three other stadium security officers, continued to struggle with Jones, McAleer said.
He said the officers placed Jones into handcuffs and escorted him to Gate R, where they were joined by other UP officers.
Jones withdrew from the university in March after he was charged with assaulting and attempting to rob a taxi driver. After further investigation, the criminal charges were dropped. Last month, Jones told The Daily he was returning to NU as both a student and a football player.
In a separate incident last year, Jones pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of battery and unlawful use of a driver’s license. The charges were related to an altercation at a Zeta Beta Tau fraternity party.
At the time of his arrest on Saturday, Jones would not answer any questions about his version of the incident, McAleer said.
One of the security officers suffered minor bruising and swelling below the eye, and the other received a cut on the inside of his mouth, McAleer said.
Coach Randy Walker said Monday that Jones’ ties to the football team would be severed permanently. Jones is scheduled to appear Oct. 19 at Circuit Court in Skokie.
–Marissa Conrad