Jayru Campbell, wearing his Cass Tech varsity jacket, was arraigned by video Wednesday morning on assault charges in a Jan. 22 hallway confrontation with a school security guard.
The 17-year-old junior, whose family had to post a $500 bond at 36th District Court, is described by attorney Jeffrey Edison as upset and worried, Elisha Anderson writes in the Free Press.
“He’s concerned about his education. He’s concerned about his future. He obviously is concerned about what happened that day.
“When you look at all the circumstances of that day, it certainly is our position that Mr. Campbell should not be criminalized. . . .
“He is extremely remorseful for whatever took place,” Edison said outside the courthouse. “But he’s ready to move forward.”
Campbell, 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, led Cass Tech to state Division 1 titles in 2011 and 2012. He's verbally committed to attend MSU after graduating next year.
A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 24. Campbell is charged as an adult with aggravated assault, a misdemeanor, and an alternate count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, a felony.
Campbell, 6-foot, 4-inches tall and 200 pounds, led Cass Tech to Division 1 state championships in 2011 and 2012. He is verbally committed to Michigan State for its 2015 class.
Tuesday afternoon article:
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced Tuesday her office has filed assault charges against Jayru Campbell, the 17-year-old Cass Tech quarterback who is verbally committed to play at Michigan State University.
Speaking at a news conference and emphasizing the law applies to everyone, no matter their talents, Worthy said Campbell will face charges of assault to commit great bodily harm and aggravated assault. He is scheduled to be arraigned in 36th District Court Wednesday.
In a video of the incident, above, a person prosecutors say was Campbell can be seen slamming a security guard head first to the ground in a school hallway as nearby students watch, screaming. The guard, prosecutors said, had told Campbell to remove his hood, and he refused.
Worthy said the security guard suffered facial and head injuries but is recovering.
In response to a question, the prosecutor said she was aware of other incidents, but refused to elaborate.
Cass Tech football coach Thomas Wilcher told the Free Press he has spoken to Campbell and said he is remorseful. He said Campbell remains suspended from school.
“He can’t come back to school until all this is straightened out and then he can come back to school,’’ Wilcher said. “The Public School system has to make decisions on him, not Cass.’’
Campbell is a highly rated player who has been sought by such major colleges as Wisconsin and Notre Dame.
In an interview with WXYZ-TV last month, Campbell's mother, Tiffany Parrish, acknowledged her son has made mistakes but he's learning from them the hard way. She said he is receiving counseling at school and with a psychologist.
"This should be a wake-up call for Jayru...to handle things a little better," Parrish told WXYZ.
Ay her press conference, Worthy said it took three weeks to charge Campbell because of her office's staffing problem, which she attributed to Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.
Worthy said Ficano "doesn't give a damn about public safety."
She said the office is short 85 people, 75 of whom are lawyers.
Previously on Deadline Detroit:
Does the Cass Tech Quarterback Deserve Another Chance?, by Darrell Dawsey
These videos show two views of the confrontation three weeks ago:
