Miami defensive end Zach Smierciak charged with felonious assault

Per The Miami Student, Miami defensive end Zach Smierciak was charged over the weekend for felonious assault in reference to an allegation of intentionally shoving a ladder with a person on it at the Brick Street bar in Oxford.

The person fell and hit his head, and was taken to McCullough Hyde Hospital in Oxford before being flown to the University of Cincinnati Hospital early Sunday morning. Smierciak fled the scene following the incident, which was confirmed by 10 written statements, an interview and a security video.

This was not Smierciak’s first run-in with the law in Oxford. Smierciak was charged with disorderly conduct in June 2014 and had to pay a $150 fine. Under Ohio law, felonious assault is a second degree felony and can lead to a sentence of two-to-eight years in prison.

Smierciak, a redshirt junior, is a starter for the RedHawks on the defensive line and has 30 total tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on the season and was a key player in last week’s victory over Central Michigan.

Chuck Martin did not mention the arrest in his Monday press conference, and Smierciak’s hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. at the Butler County Area courthouse in Oxford.

Updates will be provided as more information is released.