Records: UA assistant track coach threatened student

The University of Arizona assistant track coach arrested on domestic violence charges admitted to stalking, threatening and assaulting a student track athlete he was having a relationship with, court documents state.

Over the course of a week, Craig Carter, 47, allegedly threatened the victim, who, according to court records, he had been seeing for the past 2½ years, with a box cutter, choked and stalked her, and tried to drag her out of a classroom before she fled from his grasp.

The victim told investigators that he said, “I’ll hurt you,” and “I’ll cut that pretty face” as he choked her in his office, according to records.

The UA said Wednesday that it will terminate Carter from his coaching position.

Court records state Carter, who coaches athletes in the throwing events, shot put and discus, waived his Miranda rights when he admitted to the crimes.

On April 27, Carter pushed the victim onto a couch in his office, choked her with his left hand while he threatened her with a box cutter with his right hand, records state.

The following Wednesday, Carter entered a classroom on UA campus and grabbed the victim’s arm twice before she could flee, records showed.

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Police investigators said they uncovered 57 texts and emails Carter had sent to the woman between April 26 and May 1, four of which contained threatening statements.

The UA Police Department refused to provide the incident reports, saying the investigation is ongoing.

Carter was arrested Friday. As of Wednesday evening, Carter remained in the Pima County Jail with his bond set at $40,000. His attorney, Heidi Krauss of the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, was not available for comment Wednesday.

He faces three domestic violence charges — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, threats and intimidation with injury and damage to property, stalking with fear of physical injury or death upon another — and an interfering with an educational institution charge.

Carter has been suspended since his arrest and the university is initiating a dismissal procedure, according to Chris Sigurdson, a UA spokesman.

The university is in the final stages of an investigation into Carter’s alleged crimes, Sigurdson said.

“While I cannot speak about any student specifically, please know that student welfare is the university’s first priority,” he said. “In situations where members of the campus community are subject to violence acts, the university provides resources and assistance to help restore well-being.”