Pitt guard Ithiel Horton charged with aggravated assault after allegedly hitting police officer

Ithiel Horton, a starting guard on the University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball team, was arrested Saturday for assaulting a Pittsburgh police officer on the South Side. Horton has been charged with aggravated assault — a second-degree felony — resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, according to court documents.vThe officer who was assaulted said Horton hit him in the face with his cell phone in hand after police arrived at the scene of Horton’s car being towed.

Police were dispatched to the 1700 block of East Carson Street at 1:06 a.m. in response to a dispute between Horton and a towing company employee. Horton, according to the complaint, was angry about his car being towed and was told by officers that the car could not be taken off the back of the tow truck. As the officers walked away, Horton allegedly yelled at the officers, which included a derogatory comment directed at a female officer.

One of the officers attempted to handcuff Horton, but he pulled away and led a brief foot pursuit before Horton fell, according to the complaint. As officers again tried to detain him, one officer, in his Pittsburgh police uniform, who was standing in front of Horton was hit in the face. The claim was backed up by an eyewitness account, as well as nearby city cameras and the officer’s department-issued camera. Horton was then taken to the ground and handcuffed. One of the officers speaking with Horton said they could detect “a strong odor” of alcohol on his breath.

Pitt, in a statement released through an athletic department spokesperson, said it is "aware of a report regarding one of our student-athletes," but declined further comment "until additional information is gathered."

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2021/11/06/pitt-panthers-basketball-ithiel-horton-aggravated-assault-pittsburgh-police/stories/202111060039