Singletary arrested for noise violation

Kent State men’s basketball player Chris Singletary was arrested Sunday morning after being cited for a noise violation and resisting arrest. The junior forward was arrested at his home on Olympus Street.

After being warned by Kent police officers earlier Saturday night, police returned to Singletary’s home and arrested him at 12:03 a.m. According to the police report, when officers returned to Singletary’s neighborhood, loud noises could be heard from several houses away.

Singletary, who lives in a duplex on Olympus Street, allegedly became uncooperative when officers attempted to arrest him for unlawful noise, which resulted in a resisting arrest charge. The police report also indicated that Singletary sustained wrist and shoulder injuries while being arrested.

Singletary was released an hour later through a personal recognizance bond posted by teammate, senior Al Fisher. Singletary’s court hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning.

The arrest is Singletary’s second this year, after being charged for driving under the influence in January. Singletary was placed on probation earlier this summer for the January arrest.

Laing Kennedy, Kent State director of athletics, said despite the arrests, Singletary still has the support of the program.

“Our position is to wait, and let this play out,” Kennedy said. “We continue to believe in Chris.”

Singletary is expected to be a major contributor for the basketball team, after starting nearly every game for the Flashes last season. The 6-foot-4-inch Chicago native averaged 10 points per game in the 2007-2008 season, helping Kent State reach the NCAA Tournament. By the end of the season, Singletary was being praised for his poise of handling the legal issues, and had regularly been referred to as a team leader.

New Kent State coach Geno Ford, facing his first major off-the-court issue, followed Kennedy’s lead in supporting Singletary.

“We continue to stand by Chris,” Ford said. “We’ll let this play out and see what happens.”

Contact public affairs reporter Brock Harrington at [email protected].