KNOXVILLE - Tennessee wide receiver Josh Smith was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with domestic assault after an altercation involving his roommates.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office website indicates Smith, 23, was granted conditional release Saturday morning on $2,000 bond.
Josh Smith"We are aware of the situation involving Josh Smith, and we'll have no further comment at this time," a Tennessee athletic department spokesperson said in a released statement.
Case notes provided to the Times Free Press by the Knoxville Police Department tell of an alcohol-infused altercation among three roommates that ended with one suffering numerous abrasions to the face.
An investigating officer interviewed Smith and the victim, Kennedy Foster, at the UT Medical Center after Smith's parents drove Foster to the hospital's emergency room.
Smith and Foster each told police that they had been drinking alcohol at their house with a third roommate when Foster began coughing, retreated to his bedroom and locked the door.
The victim told police that Smith was "really worried about me." Both acknowledged that Smith broke the door down. Smith said Foster tackled him and started swinging. A physical altercation ensued and left Foster bloody.
"Officer observed the victim's face to be severely damaged," the case notes said. "The victim's left eye was blackened/swollen, had swollen lips, and had swelling to his nose/bridge of his nose. The victim's face was bloodied."
The third roommate became involved in the altercation, according to Smith, who told police he intervened and kicked Foster in the face twice.
The officers noted that Smith had marks "consistent with clawing on his neck and cheek as well as a mark on his nose and lip."
Based on the injuries sustained to the victim relative to the suspect, the suspect was taken into custody as being the primary aggressor, according to the case notes.
The case notes said Foster's difficulty remembering the chain of events and the lack of statement from the third roommate resulted in no charges being given to the that roommate.
Told he would be taken into custody, Smith said, "It's my fault," according to the case notes.
The rising senior has 58 career catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns.
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.