LSU women's basketball guard MiLaysia Fulwiley was arrested Saturday night on five criminal charges — including aggravated battery and aggravated assault — after allegedly striking a police officer with her vehicle and fleeing the scene, yet another case of a university athletic program recruiting talent and leaving the public to clean up the mess.
Taxpayers subsidize Louisiana State University to the tune of hundreds of millions annually. What they get in return is a athletic-industrial complex that prioritizes point totals over character, then hides behind "ongoing legal matter" when one of its stars allegedly runs down a cop.
According to WBRZ TV in Baton Rouge, the incident began after 10 p.m. Saturday — as LSU's football game against Texas was emptying out of sold-out Tiger Stadium. An officer observed the 21-year-old Fulwiley weaving through traffic and attempted a stop. Instead of complying, Fulwiley allegedly put her vehicle in reverse, then drove forward, striking an officer with her car before leaving the scene. Heavy reported that Fulwiley struck "an officer" with her vehicle; WDIV ClickOnDetroit framed it as her vehicle striking "a police vehicle" — a significant difference the public record will need to clarify. Either way, she fled.
Responding officers eventually cut off her vehicle after she allegedly tried to cut through a store parking lot. Fulwiley and a passenger were removed from the vehicle, and she was taken into custody at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
She faces five charges: aggravated battery, aggravated assault, flight from an officer, resisting an officer, and obedience to police officers.
LSU's response? A one-sentence statement Sunday afternoon: "We are aware of the situation and have no further comment at this time as it's an ongoing legal matter." No suspension announced. No word on whether she'll suit up Monday night against Troy. Just the institutional wall of silence.
Fulwiley transferred to LSU from South Carolina, where she played two seasons. She's now averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 assists, 4.3 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game for the ninth-ranked Tigers, who have opened the season blowing out overmatched opponents by margins as wide as 109 points. The program needs her on the court. Whether the program has any interest in accountability off it remains the open question.
The university that profits from Fulwiley's performance owes the public more than a no-comment. An officer was allegedly struck by a vehicle driven by a student representing a taxpayer-funded institution. LSU's next move will tell you everything about where its priorities actually lie.
