Police: Winthrop student reports assault, severe injuries over weekend

Winthrop University Campus Police and Rock Hill detectives are jointly looking into an alleged off-campus assault that left a college student with possible broken bones, a black eye, cuts to his face, and injuries on his foot, law enforcement records show.

It’s unclear what led to the fight other than the man who was injured telling officers a group of people came to an off-campus house on Camden Avenue where he was “hanging out” to “settle a dispute,” according to the police incident report. The alleged incident happened around 3:30 a.m. Sunday and was reported the next day.

Officers say the man was visibly injured and severely beaten. He told police he tried to “diffuse” the situation by stepping outside the house when several people arrived but the group “confronted” him in the backyard, the report states.

The man claims he was attacked. Police investigation this week shows what “appears to be mutual combat,” said Rock Hill Police Department spokesman Capt. Brent Allmon, noting the case remains active.

Rock Hill Police records indicate the man identified the group of alleged suspects as possibly Winthrop student-athletes.

Winthrop Assistant Athletic Director and spokesman for the athletic department Jack Frost said school officials take such reported allegations seriously. It’s unclear how many student-athletes have been accused in the incident but no suspects have been charged, according to police.

Frost said once the law enforcement investigation is complete, the findings will be handed over to Winthrop’s dean of students and a determination about possible discipline will be made. Because no criminal charges have been filed, the athletic department has not formally disciplined any student-athletes.

If student-athletes are found to be responsible for the alleged attack, Frost says they will face disciplinary action by their head coach and/or Winthrop’s athletic director.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Police: Winthrop student reports assault, severe injuries over weekend."