On Aug. 24, an arrest warrant was issued for FIU running back Shawndarrius Phillips, who allegedly choked his girlfriend in June. He wasn't arrested that day, and he managed to avoid arrest before the Panthers' season opener on Sept. 1, in which he ran for 38 yards and one touchdown.
Phillips wasn't arrested before their Sept. 8 game vs. Old Dominion, nor was he arrested before any of FIU's other 10 games this season. Somehow, Shawndarrius Phillips played the entire season despite having a warrant for his arrest, issued on Aug. 24, two months after he allegedly choked his girlfriend, according to the Miami Herald.
As she struggled to speak or even breathe, she said, “Phillips got her on her feet and walked her back towards his couch until she fell back on the couch,” according to the affidavit.
Scratching his hand, she said, did no good and he remained atop her. She claimed Phillips got off her, saying, “Don’t you ever speak to me or my family again.” He then ordered her out, saying, “If you don’t leave, I’m going to break your jaw.”
The deputy who took the report said she had scratch marks on the left side of her neck, just below the ear. The warrant for Phillips’ arrest was issued Aug. 24.
An FIU spokesman, on Thursday night, told the Miami Herald they had no comment on the warrant or arrest, therefore, obviously, gave no explanation why Phillips was allowed to play despite a domestic battery arrest warrant. It's unclear if head coach Butch Davis or anyone within the FIU program knew of the incident prior to Phillips' arrest.
FIU didn't answer HERO Sports' request for comment.
If they didn't know, how? Arrest warrants are available to the public. It's understandable they could've been unaware in the immediate days after the warrant was issued. But nearly four months later? No one is conducting simple public records searches on scholarship student-athletes?
If they knew…I don't even know what to type here.
