LaceDarius Dunn arrested for assault on girlfriend, suspended indefinitely

LaceDarius Dunn. (Getty Images)

We have another preseason arrest in college basketball, and perhaps the most startling one yet.

Baylor guard LaceDarius Dunn, considered by many to be a top-five player in the Big 12, was arrested today for a second-degree felony on his girlfriend. Dunn and the female were involved in an altercation on Sept. 27. The phrase “causing bodily harm” is used in the police report. His bail was set at $12,500, and he faces between two and 20 years in prison if he’s not lucky enough to get off on probation terms. The facts: Dunn broke her jaw in two places, leading to a felony assault charge and the woman needing surgery.

It also led to Baylor coach Scott Drew putting his best player on the pine for an indefinite amount of time. This came about because Dunn went down to the Waco Police Department and turned himself in. Officers got scent of this when the victim checked into the hospital on the day of the altercation, and from there one thing led to another to get them to investigate how she came to have her jaw fractured.

Dunn’s 22-year-old girlfriend is not seeking to press charges. Her attorney told Jason King of Yahoo! this process has brought on too much attention, and she is now feeling “re-victimized” because of it. In fact, the parties all around the incident seem to believe the ordeal is much less serious than what the reports and facts provide.

Jeff Goodman spoke with the victim’s father, who claims the incident was an accident. The woman is supposedly recovering well from the incident and can eat and speak without pain. From King’s story:

“Even though he was arrested for a felony, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to be formally charged with a felony in the court system,” [attorney Jason] Darling said. “[The victim] will probably fill out an affidavit of non-prosecution or write a letter to the D.A.’s office that she doesn’t want to pursue any charges.

“At that point it will be up to them whether to pursue the charges or not, but it’s going to be hard to prove a case without a witness.”

Big problems for Baylor, regardless of what happens here. Dunn’s guilty of a massive lapse of judgment, at the very least. His suspension could last well into the Bears’ season. From here, in regard to the suspension, it seems Drew will have to weigh his conscience against public sentiment and what Dunn and his girlfriend and their families tell him. Following the hideous crimes at Baylor earlier last decade, this is one university that can’t afford to tread lightly when it comes to their players getting in trouble with the law.