Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

Police release video of rugby assault

The video appears to show an ASU player kicking a UA player in the face with his cleat

Rugby Video Still.jpg

Still shot taken from the video released by the ASU Police Department on Thursday of an altercation from February that led to aggravated assault charges against an ASU rugby player. 


On Thursday, the ASU Police Department released a 51-second video clip of a February aggravated assault incident involving the ASU rugby team.

The video begins with roughly 30 seconds of game play at the SDFC practice fields on the Tempe campus. 

Around the 36-second mark, an ASU player appears to walk over to a kneeling UA opponent and kick him in the face as the UA player is tying his shoe. 

The ASU player, who was later identified as as Christopher Crawford, then ran off the field, changed into street clothes and left the scene, according to police reports. 

He was later arrested on suspicion of aggrevated assault. His trial is currently pending in Maricopa County Superior Court.   



The video was taken by a bystander and provided to the department as evidence, according to ASU police spokesperson Katy Harris. The video was then passed along to prosecutors for evidence in Crawford's trial, she said. 

The department released the video to The State Press in response to a public records request. 

The UA player, Doug Neary, sustained injuries that required him to undergo facial reconstruction surgery where doctors inserted six screws and a metal plate into his face, according to court records. 

A State Press investigation earlier this month found that the University adopted several policy changes as a result of the incident.

Crawford was not an ASU student at the time, which was allowed under previous policies. Now, only ASU students are allowed to play on club sport teams. 

The rugby team was issued sanctions by ASU and USA Rugby as a result of the incident. 

Editor's note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.


Reach the reporter at klbroder@asu.edu or follow @KellyB1459 on Twitter.

Reach the reporter at rkneedle@asu.edu  or follow @reillykneedler on Twitter.

Like State Press on Facebook and follow @statepresss on Twitter.


Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today.

Subscribe to Pressing Matters



×

Notice

This website uses cookies to make your experience better and easier. By using this website you consent to our use of cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.