AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas guard Martez Walker was suspended indefinitely from all team activities Friday after he was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly beating his girlfriend in a campus dormitory.
According to campus police, Travis County Emergency Medical Services was called to the dorm Wednesday night, where the victim reported Walker slapped her and punched her four times in the left side.
According to Walker's arrest affidavit, Tanecia Gardner said Walker became angry because she went to happy hour with a male supervisor from her job. She also suggested her relationship with Walker has a history of physical violence.
''Gardner said she knew from previous fights with Walker that he was going to hit her, so she hid her face and went into the fetal position on the couch,'' the affidavit said.
Gardner told police Walker punched her ''hard'' four times, then dragged her by the arms and threw her out of his room. A third party called for medical help on Gardner's behalf, and police were alerted to a possible assault, university police spokeswoman Cindy Posey said.
Gardner reported difficulty breathing and she was taken to hospital for examination of broken ribs. The arrest affidavit noted a bruise on Gardner's neck, which she told police came from a previous assault by Walker.
A warrant was issued for Walker's arrest and he surrendered to police early Friday on a charge of assault with injury/dating violence, which carries up to a year in jail and $4,000 in fines.
It was not immediately clear if Walker has an attorney. Coach Rick Barnes announced Walker's suspension shortly after midnight.
''We have consistently stressed to all of our student athletes for a long time that any behavior in which women are not treated with respect will not be tolerated,'' Barnes said.
Texas football coach Charlie Strong dismissed players Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander after they were arrested in July on felony sexual charges. Those cases are still pending.
''Physical abuse and violence will not be tolerated at the University of Texas,'' Texas President Bill Powers said Friday about the Walker incident.
Walker, who is from Detroit, played in 33 games last season, averaging nearly 13 minutes and 4.7 points.
