Arizona defensive end Louis Holmes will appear in a Scottsdale court next week on charges of criminal damage and disorderly conduct stemming from a fight at a nightclub last month.
The arrest is Holmes' second in just over two years.
Holmes, 22, is accused of punching a patron and ripping a doorman's Kenneth Cole blazer as he was being escorted from the Pussycat Lounge, 4426 N. Saddlebag Trail, around 2 a.m. on July 1, according to a Scottsdale Police Department report.
Holmes, a senior, is expected to be one of the UA's top players this season after registering 36 tackles and two sacks in 2006. He played two seasons at Scottsdale Community College before signing with Arizona as the nation's top junior college player.
Holmes, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is one of the five featured players in this season's "Live it Live" UA football ad campaign.
"It's news to me," UA coach Mike Stoops told the Star after practice Tuesday. "I don't know anything about it."
Stoops said nothing about disciplinary action and then called Holmes over and the two huddled together for about five minutes.
According to the police report, Holmes was asked to leave the club after a bouncer saw him "lay out" an unknown male with one punch. It took several people to escort Holmes β at 6 feet 6 inches, 260 pounds β from the club, the report stated.
Holmes said he was defending himself after being jumped inside the club, the report stated. Holmes reportedly told officers he is "not a fighter" and had no idea how the blazer got ripped.
Holmes initially identified himself as "Daniel," his middle name, before stating his full name as Louis Daniel Holmes, according to the report.
Holmes was pepper-sprayed by an unknown male by the time officers arrived, according to the report. Holmes complained of stinging eyes and was treated at the scene by the Scottsdale Fire Department. Officers reported that Holmes was then yelling and being disruptive. He was booked into Maricopa County jail and released.
Identified in the report as Holmes' friend and a witness was Calgary Stampeders and former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Mike Labinjo, 27. In the report, Labinjo told officers that Holmes was inside the club when he became involved in an argument with a male named "Chris" over a girl.
Labinjo told police that Chris, who Labinjo said was an Arizona State football player, threw a punch at Holmes and missed, according to the report.
Labinjo told officers that Holmes then punched Chris, and security intervened. Labinjo reportedly told officers that Holmes ripped the bouncer's jacket as he was being escorted from the club. Officers were unable to identify or locate Chris.
Holmes is scheduled to appear in Scottsdale City Court on Aug. 16.
