Florida State early enrollee quarterback De'Andre Johnson has been charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly hitting a female FSU student at a Tallahassee bar last week, according to an incident report from the state attorney's office released Tuesday.
The news was first reported by ESPN's Mark Schlabach.
FSU already announced on Thursday that Johnson had been suspended indefinitely for a violation of athletic department policy, but would not elaborate on the violation. The report, filed Tuesday, describes Johnson's altercation with a female last Wednesday night, at approximately 11:30 p.m., in a Tallahassee nightclub near the FSU campus.
The victim was in the nightclub waiting to order a drink at the bar, which was very crowded. When she got to the bar she felt someone pushing her from behind, aggressively. She turned to address the person pushing her, the defendant, who was now face to face with the victim at the bar. The victim raised her right arm to defend herself. The defendant grabbed her arm that was raised and began pushing her. The defendant maintained his grasp on her right arm. The victim raised her knee to the defendant's midsection in an attempt to shove him away. The defendant pulled her arm down as she was pushing him with her knee. The victim attempted to strike the defendant with her left fist to release his grasp. The defendant countered by punching the victim on the left side of the face. The two then separated with the victim remaining at the bar and the defendant leaving the establishment with associates. ...
The victim suffered bruising under her left eye, swelling to the left cheek and upper lip, and a small cut near the bridge of her nose.
After reviewing footage from the bar's security cameras, authorities confirmed the stories from the victim and witnesses and decided to charge Johnson with misdemeanor battery. As such, a warrant has been issued but Johnson will not be taken into custody.
Johnson, three-star prospect ranked among the top 15 dual threat quarterbacks in the country, enrolled at FSU in January and has been committed to the Seminoles since 2012. The Jacksonville native flashed signs of potential in spring practice, even throwing two touchdowns in the team's spring game last April.
While Johnson's odds to win the starting job over Sean Maguire were not great, they were better than his chances to beat out both Maguire and former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson. Maguire has an experience advantage against Golson, but Johnson's one spring practice of college football does not give him much of an edge against the seasoned college starter.
Florida State opens the 2015 season against Texas State in Tallahassee.
Wink of the CBS eye to Andy Staples for the incident report
