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SBI to investigate ECU post-game incidents

Sep 12, 2008

Greenville, N.C. — The State Bureau of Investigation said Friday that agents would look into reports that law enforcement officers used excessive force on East Carolina University fans after last weekend's football game.

Separately, Conference USA fined ECU $10,000 for violating the league's sportsmanship policies.

During the post-game celebration of ECU's 24-3 victory over then-No. 8 West Virginia, fans stormed the field of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Fans said some officers used excessive force to halt the rush to the field, and some videos have shown an unidentified officer throwing a fan to the ground and another unidentified officer repeatedly punching a fan while on the ground.

ECU Police Chief Scott Shelton said that, because of the various law enforcement agencies that provided security at the game, it was appropriate for an independent office to conduct the investigation. ECU police were assisted at the game by officers from the Greenville, Winterville and Kinston police departments and by sheriff's deputies from Pitt and Lenoir counties.

Shelton said his department had identified police officers and deputies shown in video clips of incidents after the game. ECU has forwarded that information to the appropriate agencies, which will determine possible discipline, he said.

Shelton didn't identify the officers, citing personnel laws and regulations.

After the SBI completes its investigation, Pitt County District Attorney Clark Everett will decide whether to bring charges, Shelton said.

Conference USA's sportsmanship policies prohibit public access to competition areas. In addition to the fine, the league said ECU could face a suspension of future hosting privileges.

The action of the fans was “clearly in violation” of the league's sportsmanship standards, according to a letter that league Commissioner Britton Banowsky sent Thursday to ECU Athletic Director Terry Holland.

In addition to an increased fine, any repetition of such an incident in football or any sport could also result in the suspension of hosting privileges for conference championship competition.

“In June 2008, the conference adopted a post-game policy to ensure the safety of visiting players and officials is maintained,” Banowsky said in a statement. “That cannot be achieved when fans are celebrating on the field in the presence of the visiting team.

“As is the case in every conference, we expect all 12 of our members to take the steps necessary to create a safe environment at their events. It is both a reasonable expectation and an important one.”

Both Holland and ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard issued statements in support of the policy.

“Our first concern at any of our athletics events is the safety of the fans and the participants,” Ballard said. “We are committed to making any changes necessary to enhance safety at these events and to follow Conference USA mandates.”

Conference USA policy states that “institutions are responsible for the conduct of spectators at events that they are hosting and that spectators should not be permitted on the field of play until the visiting team and officials have made safe transition to the locker room.”

Shelton said ECU would no longer use officers from law enforcement agencies outside Pitt County to provide security at games.