'Canes WR arrested

Wayne charged with battery on equipment manager

Posted: Friday December 04, 1998 09:33 PM

Reggie Wayne tore a knee ligament during practice last week, ending his season Eliot J. Schechter/Allsport

CORAL GABLES, Florida (AP) -- Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Reggie Wayne was arrested Friday on charges of aggravated battery.

Wayne, 20, allegedly lifted up the Hurricanes' student equipment manager, James O'Donnell, then dropped him to the ground before the start of practice Thursday. O'Donnell pressed charges, said Hurricanes spokesman Bob Burda.

Burda said O'Donnell suffered a bruised nose and two scraped knees.

"I am aware of the incident, and we are in the process of gathering information," coach Butch Davis said in a statement late Friday. "Once all the facts are known, the situation will be dealt with."

Burda said Wayne suffered a season-ending injury when he tore a ligament in his knee during last week's practice.

"The university takes this incident very seriously and we're going to be investigating this ourselves to see if he violated any student codes," said university spokesman Dan Kalmanson.

Wayne was arrested by University of Miami Police and taken to Miami-Dade County Jail's Turner Gilford Knight Correctional Facility.

There was no immediate word on whether Wayne bonded out and was being held through the night. Calls to the jail got a recorded message that the answering machine could take no more messages.

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