Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tommy Rees has been arrested and jailed on possible charges of resisting law enforcement, felony battery to law enforcement, minor consumption and public intoxication after a confrontation with South Bend officers who were trying to break up an off-campus house party early Thursday, according to reports.
South Bend police received a call about a loud party at about 12:30 a.m. on Notre Dame Avenue, and when officers arrived, they found a "madhouse of people" drinking and gathering outside a home, enjoying the warm night.
Officers then approached the congregation and a handful of people hopped a fence followed by leading the officers on a chase. The officers did catch up with the group and used their hands to corral them, but the 19-year-old Rees "actively resisted," said South Bend Police Capt. Phil Trent to the Chicago Tribune.
"It wasn't terribly violent, but it was enough to be considered resisting," he said.
Trent also said that Rees lifted a knee into one of the officers who suffered a minor scrape and "had the wind knocked out of him" while trying to stop the group. It was discovered that Rees had a blood alcohol content of .11.
Rees's teammate, linebacker Carlo Calabrese, was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct and released after posting $150 bond. Calabrese had a BAC of .12.
"The university is aware of this incident and is confident that it will be handled in a prompt and professional manner through the criminal justice system," said Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown in a statement. "Internal discipline is handled privately, in accord with our own policies and federal law."
Currently, Rees is being held without bond until formal charges are brought up.
With his arrest, Rees will most likely lose his starting job in a three-way competition involving redshirt freshman Everett Golson, junior Andrew Hendrix and newcomer Gunner Kiel. Rees started the final 12 games of the 2011 season as well as four games as a freshman in 2010. However, Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly reopened the competition during the team's 15 official spring workouts and didn't choose a starter following the team's spring game on April 21.
Kiel may redshirt, which would leave Golson and Hendrix to battle for the starting job. Hendrix has two years under his belt and got some experience last year, showing speed, but inaccuracy as well, only completing 48 percent of his 37 throws in five appearances. Golson stole the show at the Fighting Irish's spring game, throwing two touchdowns and no picks.
Kiel signed with Notre Dame as the top-rated high school quarterback in the country. In his senior season, he passed for 2,517 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for 482 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kiel passed for a total of 7,175 yards in his high school career.
