Football: Knox accussed of assault

Jeff Knox, a Pitt safety who was dismissed from the football team Thursday, has been accused of… Jeff Knox, a Pitt safety who was dismissed from the football team Thursday, has been accused of disorderly conduct, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

A complaint filed in Pittsburgh Municipal Court says Knox, 18, assaulted a woman who told him she was pregnant.

Chatham University and city police responded to Chatham University’s Fickes Hall Wednesday for a report of a man choking a woman.

Police found a woman sitting on a porch crying outside the residence hall. The woman told police that after she told Knox she was pregnant, and the two yelled expletives at each other. Knox then told the victim, “I hope you try to f**** hit me,” according to the complaint.

The two yelled at each other, and then the victim tried to hit Knox. The victim told police Knox then slapped her in the head with an open hand, “with such force that she was thrown to the ground,” according to the complaint.

The document says Knox then jumped on the victim, grabbed her by the throat, picked her up by the throat and slammed her head into the wall, where he held her and continued to choke her.

Knox then fled the scene, according to the report.

Neither Knox nor a spokesman for the Pitt Athletics Department could immediately be reached for comment.

Knox is the fourth football player to have a run-in with police since July. Defensive end Jabaal Sheard pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after a July incident in the South Side, and has been reinstated to the team.

Running back Jason Douglas is currently on suspension after he was arrested earlier this month and charged with driving under the influence. Offensive lineman Keith Coleman is also currently on suspension after police charged him with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.

The Pitt News does not release the names of assault victims.