March 12--Illinois point guard Jaylon Tate is being held at the Champaign County Jail after a domestic battery arrest early Saturday morning, according to the Champaign police department.
Illinois coach John Groce and athletic director Josh Whitman released a joint statement announcing Tate's indefinite suspension from the team and describing the arrest as one related to domestic violence.
"It is important that we take time to fully understand the events of (Friday) evening before passing judgement," the statement read. "We condemn domestic violence in all its forms and will move swiftly and decisively if these allegations are substantiated."
The arrest took place hours after Illinois' season ended when it was eliminated from the Big Ten tournament with an 89-58 loss to Purdue in Indianapolis.
Tate is the third player to be arrested and suspended from the team this season. Forward Darius Paul was arrested in August for vandalism, public intoxication and resisting arrest on an overseas exhibition trip in France with the team and kicked off the Illini. Forward Leron Black was arrested on Feb. 20 for allegedly pulling a knife on a bouncer at a Champaign night club.
According to the Champaign News Gazette, a 19-year-old female victim who is also an Illinois athlete told police that she had been hit in the face by Tate but declined to give other information. The police were called by a friend of the woman at 1:40 a.m. Saturday. The officers said she as seen spitting blood and had a swollen face, according to the report.
Tate, a junior from Chicago's Simeon Career Academy, averaged just 1.9 points this season.
sryan@tribpub.com
