Rutgers star Leonte Carroo arrested, charged with simple assault

PISCATAWAY – Suspended Rutgers football star Leonte Carroo was arrested and charged with simple assault under domestic violence, according to Rutgers University Police Department Chief Kenneth Cop.

The incident that led to Carroo’s arrest occured outside the Hale Center on Saturday in Piscataway, Cop said. It happened at 7:56 p.m., about 45 minutes after the game ended, per the RUPD daily crime log.

Rutgers coach Kyle Flood suspended Carroo indefinitely on Sunday night as a “result of an incident that happened (Saturday) night outside of our stadium that is currently under investigation.”

Carroo, a wide receiver, is the seventh Rutgers player to be arrested since Sept. 3, four of whom face aggravated assault charges and two of whom face armed robbery charges as a result of an alleged spree of three home invasions that happened in New Brunswick during April and May.

The other six were dismissed from the program within no more than two days of their arrests, but Carroo remains on indefinite suspension. After maintaining a publicly clean record for three years, Carroo has been suspended twice in the last month, with the first for a violation of team curfew.

Speaking about 90 minutes before the arrest was first reported by Gannett New Jersey, Flood was asked if there is a chance Carroo plays Saturday against Penn State or if his suspension is for longer than that.

“I don’t anticipate any change in status as of right now,” Flood said, “and it would be hard for me to answer the rest of that until I had more details just because it's a hypothetical right now.”

Carroo, an Edison native, did not return text messages to his cellphone by Gannett New Jersey.

Flood said he met with Carroo before issuing the suspension but declined to share the private details of the conversation. He also declined to comment when asked if an employee of an athletic department employee was involved.

But he did not hide shy away from the idea that the string of disciplinary problems reflects onto him.

“As the head coach, everything ultimately reflects on you and it's part of the job. If you shy away from that, you probably shouldn't do the job,” Flood said, maintaining his program is not out of control.

“But I'm very comfortable that the people that know our program, the people who are invested in our program, and the people that spend time with our program know the quality and the high-quality of the young men that we have down in that locker room right now.”

Athletics director Julie Hermann, who has not granted an interview since before Aug. 25, the day that Flood was revealed to be under investigation by the school for potential impermissible contact with a faculty member regarding a student-athlete’s grade, addressed the football team after Monday’s practice.

The school investigation into Flood still is not resolved. He faces a potential wide range of penalties.

“Earlier today I joined Coach Flood, met with the football team and delivered a message about personal accountability and the responsibility to be caretakers of Rutgers football and everything it represents,” Hermann said in a statement that broke her silence.

“As the leader of the athletic department, I felt it was important to meet with the players to express my profound disappointment over recent issues involving the program, but at the same time make the team fully aware that they have my unwavering support.

“This program has historically represented this university to the highest standards, both on and off the field. I can tell you from my personal interactions that this locker room is filled with the type of leaders and quality young men that will continue to serve as exemplary ambassadors for the University.

“The expectation is that they will continue to do so. Please understand, there will be no further comment on pending matters until they are resolved.”

Just as he was leading up to the Sept. 5 season-opener, Flood was asked if he has reason to believe he might not be on the sidelines Saturday.

“Since the last time it's been asked,” Flood said, “I have not received any contact to that topic whatsoever.”

The investigation by the RUPD into the incident allegedly involving Carroo is ongoing and anyone with information may contact the RUPD Investigations Unit at 848-932-8025, Cop said.

Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleavy@gannettnj.com