2 CSUN Players Facing Charges After Scuffle

Two Cal State Northridge football players will be arraigned Oct. 10 in San Fernando Municipal Court in connection with a brawl at an on-campus apartment complex.

Ken Jackson and Tom Berry were arrested Sept. 14 on suspicion of felony battery after an altercation with campus police and security officers outside the University Park Apartments.

Police said that Jackson, 21, a junior from Stockton, allegedly punched Marlin Hines, a campus security officer, and pushed Mike Kaufman, a resident dorm adviser, in an incident that started when Kaufman asked the two players to stop drinking beer in front of the apartment complex.

Berry, 23, from La Palma, also wrestled with Hines and resisted attempts by police to break up the altercation, according to police.

Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound reserve defensive lineman, has been suspended from the football team by Northridge Coach Bob Burt. Berry, a 6-4, 260-pound senior starter at defensive tackle, remains one of four Northridge team captains. He started in the Matadors’ 17-6 victory over Central (Okla.) State last Saturday and will be in the lineup again Saturday when Northridge plays host to UC Davis at North Campus Stadium.

Lt. Michael Sugar of the State University Police said an investigation of the incident determined that Berry made no attempt to strike Hines while the security officer wrestled with Jackson.

Burt declined comment on the arrests, but sources close to the team say Berry was not disciplined because school officials, after interviewing some of the witnesses, expect that no charges will be filed against him.

Jackson could not be reached for comment and Berry was unavailable, a Northridge assistant coach said.