Illinois F Darius Paul suspended after arrest on team trip in France
Illinois junior forward Darius Paul was arrested on Friday during a team trip to France and has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules, according to the Associated Press.
In a statement on Saturday, Fighting Illini coach John Groce said Paul would return home “immediately” and that the team would evaluate his status after returning to Champaign following the conclusion of the trip.
WCIA-TV first reported the arrest. The Deauville police department told WCIA-TV that Paul was arrested around 5 a.m. on Friday and charged with vandalism, public intoxication and resisting arrest. Police said they were responding to “multiple calls of Paul breaking windows and damaging vehicles.”
The Deauville police superintendent told WCIA-TV that Paul was seen by a judge after spending “about eight hours” in jail and was later released.
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Paul transferred to Illinois after averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds as a freshman for Western Michigan in 2012–13. He sat out the 2013–14 season but was suspended for the 2014–15 season for what Groce called “multiple transgressions.” In April 2014, Paul was arrested for resisting a peace officer and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor.
Paul is the younger brother of former Illinois guard Brandon Paul.
- Molly Geary
