Oregon Ducks football vs. Arizona State

Oregon Ducks linebacker Eddie Heard (No. 32) has been suspended indefinitely by the team after he was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 on misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree assault and harassment. (Photo by Randy L. Rasmussen)

UPDATE: 10:25 a.m.: UO police have released details into the alleged incident leading to Heard's arrest.

UPDATE, 7:30 a.m.: Heard has been suspended by the team.

Oregon Ducks junior linebacker Eddie Heard has been suspended indefinitely by the team after he was arrested Wednesday evening on misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree assault and harassment that stemmed from an incident at a popular off-campus bar.

Eddie Heard

Heard, 22, was arrested by University of Oregon police and brought to Lane County jail in Eugene at 6:14 p.m. Wednesday, according to jail records, where he stayed overnight pending his court appearance.

"Eddie Heard has been suspended indefinitely," coach Mark Helfrich said in a statement. "We will take appropriate action as details develop."

Heard pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Thursday afternoon.

According to a summary of the case provided by UO police, Heard's arrest came one day after a woman reported that early on Oct. 30 -- hours after Oregon's 54-35 home win against Arizona State -- Heard had "repeatedly touched her" inside Taylor's Bar and Grill.

The woman told police that after she protested loudly, Heard slapped her and she pushed him back before leaving the bar between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Outside the bar, near the corner of East 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street, the woman told police that Heard approached before punching her in the face. Police interviewed "multiple witnesses," including Heard, before arresting him before 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Heard is an Oakland native in his third season with UO after transferring from Laney College. A reserve who has transitioned from linebacker to a defensive line hybrid this season in Oregon's new 4-3 defensive scheme, Heard has played in all eight games for UO (3-5, 1-4 Pac-12) this season and recorded one quarterback hit.

Ducks defensive coordinator Brady Hoke declined to comment on Heard following UO practice Thursday morning.

The Ducks play USC in Los Angeles on Saturday in a 4 p.m. ESPN kickoff.

Heard, whose arrest was reported first by the Daily Emerald, is the second Ducks linebacker to be suspended this season. Torrodney Prevot was suspended prior to the season opener and has not returned to the team as he remains under investigation by UO police.

Prevot has not been arrested but was suspended due to a "violation of University and Department of Athletics codes of conduct," Helfrich said in August, months after the team learned of an investigation into Prevot. A former UO athlete filed a complaint after alleging she was physically assaulted by Prevot.

-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com

@andrewgreif