Devin Butler Suspended Indefinitely by Notre Dame After Arrest
Notre Dame cornerback Devin Butler was arrested early in the morning of Aug. 20 near a bar in South Bend, Indiana, on two felony charges of battery against law enforcement and resisting law enforcement.
Notre Dame student newspaper The Observer first reported Butler’s arrest Aug. 21. Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com confirmed the report. On Sunday, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly announced Butler would be suspended indefinitely as a result of the incident.
Butler pleaded not guilty Wednesday, per WSBT.
Butler’s girlfriend, Haleigh Bailey, wrote a message defending the cornerback Thursday, via Mike Vorel of the South Bend Tribune:
I was there that entire night. Reports say that everyone left the scene but I was still there and saw everything officers did to Devin. He was abused, and wrongly arrested. He never tackled an officer and he never intentionally hurt anyone. He had no reason to be tazed because he was never resisting arrest, and he was already on the ground complying when they tazed him.
Per the report from The Observer, Butler was “brought to a holding cell at the St. Joseph County Jail” after the two preliminary charges were handed down. The arrest took place at 12:28 a.m. Prosecutors officially charged Butler on Tuesday, per NDInsider.com.
Fortuna added South Bend police confirmed Butler was “arrested at 1631 South Bend Ave., which is the address of the Linebacker Lounge, a popular bar right off Notre Dame’s campus.”
Butler is entering his senior season at Notre Dame. The Washington, D.C., native has played in 37 games for the Fighting Irish over the past three seasons, though he was not expected to be ready for the start of this season on Sept. 4 against Texas.
Butler had surgery to repair a broken left foot in June and could be out until October.