By Justin Muszynski
A CCSU football player was arrested Thursday on three charges including burglary in the first degree.
Jacob Lavender, 20, of Enfield, was allegedly involved in an incident in which he entered a New Britain home unwelcomed and threatened a resident with a closed-bladed folding knife to find out who assaulted him at the residence earlier in the day, according to the arrest warrant.
Lavender was released on a $2,500 bond and has also been charged with criminal mischief and threatening. He has not yet entered a plea.
Police responded to the earlier call in the a.m. hours of May 11 where they encountered Lavender who said his nose was broken but that he did not know who was responsible, the report says. A few hours later, Lavender was with three other males when he approached the door to the home where he was met by a resident who told him he was not to come in. At this point Lavender forced his way into the home and got into a scuffle with one of his friends who was trying to stop him, resulting in his ankle being broken, the warrant says.
Timothy Kean, who was sleeping on the couch inside the home, told police that he woke up to Lavender putting the knife to his stomach and demanded to know who assaulted him at a party earlier. Kean also told police that he saw Lavender walk outside of the home and slash the tires of two cars that belonged to his friends. When the police arrived at the scene they did not come across Lavender.
Lavender told police days later that he did in fact return to the house where he was attending a party earlier to find out who injured him, but that he did not have a blade or slash any tires. He also said that he doesn’t remember much because he thinks he may have endured a concussion from the attack he suffered earlier, the arrest warrant says.
CCSU’s athletics department issued a statement in an email correspondence.
“We are aware of the situation and take it very seriously,” said Tom Pincince, Sports Information Director. “Because it is an ongoing legal matter we have no further comment at this time.”
According to Connecticut’s Judicial Branch website, Lavender is facing separate criminal charges in a different case that has been statutorily sealed from the public in which he is awaiting disposition.
Lavender did not respond to an email or voicemail for comment.
Pincince also says that Lavender, who is a running back for the football team, is suspended indefinitely. He did not participate in the first three games of the season, according to ccsubluedevils.com. The site also says that he played in three games last season as a freshman.
He is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court Oct 23 for his burglary charge and May 3 of next year in Hartford for his other case.
None of the other individuals who allegedly entered the home with Lavender have been charged in this incident.