UD’s public safety department refused to release the report from the incident that happened in the 200 block of Caldwell Street. Dayton city prosecutor Stephanie Cook also said she would not discuss the facts of the case or whether Dayton police were involved. Dayton police records do not show any dispatch to Caldwell Street that day.
Scott, a 6-foot-9 sophomore center who averaged 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds for a Flyers team that reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8, has been suspended from participating in any team activities such as individual instruction or strength and conditioning. School officials said no one would be commenting on Scott’s status.
The Columbus Northland High School graduate has been suspended before. Scott missed both preseason exhibition games in the 2012-13 season for an unspecified violation of team rules.
UD earlier released this statement about the current incident: “Due to federal privacy laws, the University cannot release any additional information. Devon has been removed from team activities, pending resolution of these misdemeanor charges. He remains enrolled in school and will focus on his academics and this situation as his priorities.”
Scott had his 20th birthday Monday. He became a father during the season when Austin, his girlfriend, gave birth Feb. 2 to Devon Henry Scott Jr.
Several UD students approached Tuesday by WHIO did not want to comment about the incident. On Monday, senior Ian Moran from Columbus said, “It would be a shame if this ended up hurting him for some reason,” he said. “They so often try to make examples of student-athletes … I hope that doesn’t happen to him.”
Nearly a week after the alleged incident, Austin posted two tweets to celebrate Scott’s birthday. One read: Screaming Happy Birthday To My Love & Son’s Father @uJump_iDunk40 !! Enjoy Be Blessed, We Love You.”
Private universities in Ohio are currently exempt from public-record laws that public police agencies are required to follow. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine supports a bill introduced in January that would change that.
“The public policy is clear, that the state is giving them the same power as (public) police departments,” DeWine has said. “For all other purposes, we should be treating them the same insofar as openness and giving the public information.”
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