Rob Mixer | Assistant Sports Editor
Ohio University suspended a football player from the team Wednesday after the man, charged with a felony, skipped town.
Defensive lineman Melvin J. Payne, 21, of Weld House has been suspended indefinitely from the football team, said Jason Corriher, assistant athletics director for Media Relations. The redshirt freshman is a Mobile, Ala., native.
Police charged Payne with a second-degree felony for breaking into 159 Mill St. Saturday night, according to Athens County Municipal Court records.
When police arrived at Weld House to arrest him, they discovered he had left town on a Greyhound bus. As of today, Payne's whereabouts remain unknown.
Municipal Court Judge William Grim issued a warrant for Payne's arrest and set bail at $25,000. Payne must pay the full amount.
According to court documents, Payne entered 159 Mill St. and forced entry into the victim's bedroom. The victim yelled, and Payne ran into the front door and broke the glass and wood frame around the door.
Payne later received treatment at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital for injuries sustained while running into the victim's door, according to court documents.
The redshirt freshman played in 13 of Ohio's 14 games this past season. He totaled 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He also had one interception, two blocked kicks and a touchdown. He was not expected to be a starter next season but was expected to get playing time.
Payne is the third football player to be arrested since the beginning of Spring Quarter.
Defensive lineman Andrew A.J. Oxley pleaded no contest after he drunkenly drove his car down Court Street in April. Also in April, running back Donte Harden pleaded no
contest to operating a vehicle under the influence.
A senior, Oxley was suspended indefinitely from all team activities. Harden, a sophomore, is suspended for the team's first six games of next season.
vn379506@ohiou.edu
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