Central Methodist University suspends 6 football players from program following assault allegations
FAYETTE, Mo. (KMIZ)
Six Central Methodist University football players have been suspended from the team after two of them were charged with assaulting a teammate.
The university told ABC 17 News about the suspensions Wednesday afternoon, after earlier in the day saying two players charged with assault had been suspended. The university did not name the other four suspended players.
Kamarrion Ferguson, 20, and Michael Hourel, 22, were arrested and charged with third-degree assault on Tuesday.
Ferguson has been released from the Howard County Jail on bond.
"The safety and well-being of this student [the victim] is our highest priority. This behavior is unacceptable and inconsistent with our United Methodist heritage and a campus culture grounded in respect and care for others. Identified participants in the incident have been suspended from the football program indefinitely," the statement said.
The statement says that on Oct. 9, there was an informal "accountability arrangement" among a small group of players where an incident occurred on campus involving members of the football team. It goes on to say that one student-athlete was injured and received medical care at an urgent care facility.
Both men had their arraignments at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Ferguson's bond was amended to $5,000 with 10% surety, while Judge Mason Gebhardt denied Hourel's request to change his $10,000 cash-only bond.
Ferguson's preliminary court date is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 27. Hourel's bond review is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 22.
In its statement, Central Methodist University said the investigation is ongoing and is taking the matter seriously, adding that CMU will limit further comment during the investigation.
According to the probable cause statement filed with the Howard County circuit clerk, the charges stem from an incident in which both men allegedly assaulted a teammate. The statement said the victim told police that a team rule requires anyone late for practice to fight another player.
The victim said the player he was to fight didn't want to engage other than "to do 'body shots,'" at which point Hourel allegedly objected and hit the victim in the face. At that point, others — including Ferguson — allegedly joined in hitting the victim as well.
Ferguson is a junior from Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Hourel is a senior from Andalusia, Alaska.
