UO football player hospitalized after fight now faces assault charge

EUGENE, Ore. -- Police have made another arrest in an assault that put a University of Oregon football player in the hospital last month, citing the injured player himself on suspicion of misdemeanor assault.

Eugene police said Tuesday that officers cited Robert Owen Beard, 19, on fourth degree assault, a misdemeanor, in connection with the Jan. 24 incident.

"EPD is still investigating this case and can't provide further details except that during the investigation it was found that Beard also committed an assault," spokeswoman Melinda Kletzok said in a press release.

Beard was knocked unconscious and beat up in a fight Jan. 24 involving fellow UO kicker Mike Bowlin. Beard was hospitalized after the incident.

Later that week, police arrested two men in connection with the attack that put Beard in the hospital. Officers arrested Kirby Taylor Hawkins and Maurice Dion Peterson III on suspicion of second degree assault.

The charges against Beard are the latest twist in the story. After arresting Hakins and Peterson, police arrested UO football player Matt Simms on suspicion of assault in what police allege was an attack on someone Simms thought was involved in beating up Beard.

Simms has since left the team. So has Bowlin, who withdrew from the UO as both a student and an athlete.