Ball State basketball player formally charged with domestic battery

MUNCIE, Ind. – A Ball State University basketball player was formally charged Friday with two crimes stemming from his alleged abuse of a female acquaintance.

Jontrell D. Walker, 22, is charged in Muncie City Court with domestic battery and interference with the reporting of a crime, both Class A misdemeanors carrying maximum one-year jail terms.

Walker was arrested Jan. 6, about 14 hours before his teammates played against Buffalo at Worthen Arena. 

A witness told police he saw Walker repeatedly strike a woman in the head at an apartment complex in the 1200 block of West Bethel Avenue.

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The woman – who said she and Walker had been arguing – told police he knocked her down and also struck her head against concrete.

The basketball player reportedly acknowledged to officers he had taken the woman’s phone after she threatened to call police.

Walker was released from the Delaware County jail after posting a $5,000 bond about 12 hours after his arrest.

He has been suspended from the team since the day of his arrest as Ball State officials continue to investigate the incident.

An initial hearing in the case has not yet been scheduled in City Court.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.