Police: Tulane football player arrested after punching girl

ZACHARY, La. (AP) — A fight at a Waffle House in Louisiana landed a Tulane University football player in jail and a teenage girl in a hospital, police said.

Zachary Police Chief David McDavid told The Advocate the early Monday morning fight that led to the arrest of Tyler Judson, a defensive back on the university’s football team, originated from an argument about a conversation on Instagram.

It is not clear whose relationship the argument was about, but McDavid said it appears to involve Judson and the girl he is accused of punching. Police did not identify the victim, but WWL-TV reported her to be a high school student. Her mother told the news outlet her daughter has many facial fractures and will likely need surgery around her eye and for a broken nose.

The woman also told the television station her daughter, who is now recovering at home, did not know Judson.

The fight started after a group of people went to a Waffle House in Zachary after a party, McDavid said. Officers arrested Judson after interviewing several witnesses, and determining he allegedly punched someone in the face, the Advocate reported. Another juvenile was also arrested on battery charges.

“As additional information has now become available concerning his arrest earlier this week, Tulane football student-athlete Tyler Judson has been dismissed from the football program after initially being suspended following his arrest,” Tulane Athletics said in a statement. “Tulane will continue to hold our student-athletes, coaches and staff to the highest of standards.”

Judson was released on a $7,500 bond after his arrest on battery charges. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.

The Associated Press