Police arrested Florida State running back James Wilder Jr. Wednesday night on felony charges of battery and resisting arrest. Florida State has suspended Wilder until the legal process plays out, per school rules.
Wilder became involved with a confrontation with Leon County police after he allowed them in to search for a woman with an outstanding capias for failure to appear in court on a Criminal Mischief charge.
According to a police report Bianca Camarda, 20, was found hiding in a bathroom of Wilder's apartment and he was taken in to custody. As Camarda was being escorted out without incident, Wilder allegedly created one by telling a uniformed deputy that Camarda was not going to go to jail, and he stepped in between the deputy and Camarda, following with a shove of the deputy. Wilder was arrested after Camarda was placed in a police car on charges of obstructing a law enforcement officer with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer.
"There was miscommunication between him and the officer," Wilder's attorney, Tim Jansen, told the Tallahassee Democrat. "He never touched the officer and he never attempted to touch the officer."
There are no reports of witnesses on the scene to verify the story, one way or the other.
Wilder is the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back James Wilder. Wilder Jr. rushed for 160 yards and one touchdown (third on the team in rushing) as a freshman. He was a five-star recruit according to Rivals.com and the second-ranked running back in the nation in the Class of 2011.
Florida State begins spring practices on March 19. Wilder will not be allowed to participate in any team-organized practices until the legal issues are settled.
Kevin McGuire is a national college football writer for Examiner.com and the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast. He can be reached at cfbexaminer@gmail.com.
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