Tennessee Football Player Arrested In South Beach

MIAMI BEACH, FL -- A University of Tennessee football player was arrested in Miami Beach early Thursday morning following a spring break altercation with police in which an officer was allegedly struck by the athlete.

Twenty-two-year-old Kenneth George Jr. was charged with battery on a police officer, resisting an officer with violence and other offenses after being taken into custody around 3:27 a.m. in South Beach. The incident occurred along Espanola Way, which is a popular destination for tourists.

See also Miami Beach Plans Unprecedented Spring Break Crackdown

"Thankfully, our officer was treated and has since been released," explained Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department. "He is expected to make a full recovery."

George, a defensive back with the Tennessee Volunteers, allegedly punched the officer with a closed fist to the left side of the officer's head, knocking his police radio to the ground. The athlete then allegedly broke free from the officer's grasp as the officer was attempting to place him into custody by grabbing his shirt.

The officer suffered three "significant" abrasions on his knee and elbow, according to Miami Beach police. George was later taken into custody at Washington Avenue and Espanola Way by other officers.

"Once in custody, defendant spontaneously stated: 'He hit me first. Why can't I hit him back,'" according to arrest documents.

A spokesman for the university football team told Patch that school officials know about the arrest.

"We are aware of the situation and are gathering facts as the appropriate processes run their course," the spokesman explained.

George was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

In recent days, two Texas A&M University-Commerce football players were shot and robbed shortly after their arrival in nearby Miami over the weekend. They were vacationing during spring break.

The athletes, identified as linebackers Xavier Morris and Jay Bias were in stable condition and showing improvement at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Faced with higher-than-expected crowds for spring break, Miami Beach police are planning an unprecedented crackdown this weekend in an attempt to regain control of the beach. Specially outfitted police officers for the first time will move through throngs of spring breakers along the beach and confront people who flagrantly violate alcohol and marijuana laws, possibly sparking clashes.