Tennessee football player Alexis Johnson, 20. (Photo: Knox County Sheriff's Office)

By Dustin Dopirak of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee defensive tackle Alexis Johnson, a juco transfer, has been suspended from the team following his arrest Wednesday night on charges of aggravated assault and false imprisonment according to arrest warrants.

Johnson, 20, was taken into custody at 8:43 p.m. on Wednesday in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred at his apartment in Volunteer Hall, 1525 White Ave., early Sunday. He was booked at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility and released on $30,000 bond Wednesday night.

Arraignment is set for March 1 in Knox County General Sessions Court.

Tennessee spokesman Ryan Robinson said in a text message to the News Sentinel that the team is aware of the incident and Johnson has been suspended from all football activities. Robinson added that there would be no further comment.

Johnson's attorney Greg Isaacs released a statement Thursday.

"Alexis Johnson has cooperated with every aspect of the investigation," he said in the statement. "Alexis adamantly denies the allegation contained in the warrants and plans to enter a plea of not guilty. Our firm is conducting its own independent and more expansive investigation regarding these allegations. Alexis looks forward to having this matter resolved as expeditiously as possible."

The victim, who previously dated Johnson on two occasions, told police she was "play fighting" with him in the living room and the bedroom of his apartment sometime between 3-5 a.m. on Sunday when the horseplay turned violent, according to arrest warrants. The episode escalated when the 6-foot-4, 295-pounder Johnson placed his hand around the victim's throat, repeatedly choking her to the point that she could not fight back and felt she was going to pass out. A witness said that Johnson "appeared to be really punching her," and that the victim's lip was "busted," according to the warrants.

"The defendant attempted to repetitively touch and kiss her and she repeatedly stated that she did not want to have sex with him," the warrants state. "(The) victim attempted to leave the bedroom and said the defendant blocked the door prohibiting her exit. While doing so, the defendant stated, 'You think I won't (expletive) you up?' "

A one-page UT Police Department incident report released Thursday by the university does not include any names but shows that an officer was assigned to take the report about 8:37 p.m. Sunday from a female at Volunteer Hall. She alleged that she was assaulted at the hall.

The report by Officer Brian Greenlee lists the offenses as sexual battery, false imprisonment and aggravated domestic assault. It also indicates the incident was alcohol related. The report was approved Monday morning.

UT Police Department Cpl. Kelly Mihalik is listed as an affiant on the arrest warrants.

The university declined Thursday to release any other records related to the investigation.

Johnson, who played this past season at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, signed with the Vols in December and joined the team at the start of the spring semester in January. The Jonesboro, Ga., native was a four-star recruit.

Johnson's arrest comes a day after offensive lineman Mack Crowder, who finished his UT career at the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, was arrested in Florida as part of a child sex sting operation.

A lawsuit was filed in federal court last week against the University of Tennessee alleging that the university's handling of several alleged sexual assaults involving current and former student athletes violated Title IX and other federal law.