UGA, Murray State football players arrested for assault

<p>A University of Georgia football player was expected to turn himself in to Cherokee County police Monday for his part in a brawl at Lake Allatoona in May, a police spokesman said.</p><p>Defensive tackle Paul "Tripp" Taylor, 20, of Woodstock, has been charged with simple assault in the 25-person fight that led to two teenagers being injured, said police spokesman Sgt. Jay Baker. Also charged in the fight is Murray State University football player Shane McCleskey, 19, also of Woodstock, who turned himself in to police Saturday, Baker said.</p><p>McCleskey is out on $28,000 bond on aggravated battery and battery charges, Baker said.</p><p>During the fight, the bones were fractured around 16-year-old's eye and a 17-year-old sustained bruising and scratches, Baker said.</p><p>Taylor's charges stem from verbal threats, Baker said. Other people involved with the fight likely will be charged as the investigation continues, he said.</p><p>The melee began when two large groups camping along Lake Allatoona in suburban Atlanta "had words," which lead to a fight, Baker said. Authorities were not alerted until the next day, which is why it took a couple of months to track down some of those involved, Baker said.</p><p>The UGA athletic department did not immediately return a call for comment.</p><p>Murray State's athletic department is deciding how to handle the charges against McCleskey, spokesman Kevin Britton said. The college is in Murray, Ky.</p>

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