Former $Cum player Dominique Byrd charged with assault

Byrd was charged with second- and third-degree assault and armed criminal action after getting in a bar fight that resulted from him (allegedly) groping some girl.

This is a little surprising.  I figured the severe discipline instilled by pom-pom would carry over to life beyond college.  Plus I thought Byrd saved fighting for important stuff like disputes over Playstation games.

No word on whether Byrd will write a book called "If I Tried to Hit a Guy with a Drinking Glass, This is How I Would Have Done It".

(Text of the story after the jump)

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Prosecutors have charged St. Louis Rams rookie Dominique Byrd for allegedly hitting a bar patron in the face with a drinking glass early Monday morning.

The 30-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, confronted the player around 1:30 a.m. alleging that the player groped the victim's female friend at the Pepper Lounge, a restaurant and bar in St. Louis.

The two argued, and the victim said Byrd struck him in the face with a drinking glass, said police spokeswoman Schron Jackson.

The victim suffered cuts to the face and was treated at a St. Louis hospital. The Rams player had a laceration to his right hand but declined treatment, Jackson said.

Byrd was charged with second- and third-degree assault and armed criminal action. His bond was set at $25,000, said chief warrant officer Jeannette Graviss with the St. Louis circuit attorney's office.

...

Byrd's lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, said his client had posted bail and will plead not guilty to the charges.

"We're comfortable an investigation will reveal that the allegations are unwarranted," he said.

He asked people to keep an open mind, saying professional athletes can become targets for people with "less than honorable motivations."