Zachary Smierciak, 22 of Aurora, Ohio, pleaded guilty today in Area I court to a misdemeanor charge of assault. He had been charged with felonious assault after an incident earlier this month at the Brick Street Bar on High Street.
Smierciak will be sentenced at 10 a.m. Jan. 5, according to court records.
Smierciak was asked to leave the bar in the early morning hours of Nov. 4. He stormed out and shoved a bar employee off a 10-foot ladder, according to a police report. The employee was knocked to the ground and later transported by medical helicopter to an area hospital for treatment.
A witness said Smierciak ran from the scene toward Poplar Street, but employees were able to stop him a few blocks away until officers detained him.
Smierciak is suspended from the football team, Dave Meyer, assistant athletic director for Athletic Communications, previously told the Journal-News.
UPDATE @ 2:50 p.m. Nov. 10:
The felonious assault case of a Miami University student and football player has been set for a hearing next week in Butler County Area I Court.
Zachary Smierciak, 22 of Aurora, Ohio, was arrested early Sunday morning after an incident at the Brick Street Bar on High Street.
He is scheduled to be back in court Nov. 18 for a preliminary hearing. Smierciak is free on bond.
Smierciak is currently suspended from the football team, according to Dave Meyer, assistant athletic director for Athletic Communications.
INITIAL REPORT, Nov. 8:
A Miami University student and football player was arrested early Sunday morning after an incident at the Brick Street Bar on High Street.
Zachary Smierciak, 22, of Aurora, Ohio, was arrested for felonious assault about 1:30 a.m., according to Oxford police.
Smierciak was asked to leave the bar, stormed out and shoved a bar employee off a 10-foot ladder, according to the police report. The employee was knocked to the ground and later transported by medical helicopter to an area hospital for treatment.
A witness said Smierciak ran from the scene toward Poplar Street, but employees were able to stop him a few blocks away until officers detained him.
Smierciak, a starting defensive lineman for the RedHawks, is free on bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Butler County Area III Court.
Smierciak, a 6-foot-2, 262-pound junior, is starting defensive lineman for the RedHawks. He has made 30 tackles this season, including 3½ sacks. Smierciak had two tackles, including a sack, in last week’s win over Central Michigan.
Smierciak played in all 12 games as a sophomore and six as a freshman.
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