The Vandal Football team has indefinitely suspended wide receiver Dezmon Epps for allegedly slapping his girlfriend over the weekend, according to a statement from the University of Idaho Athletic Department.
“I have zero tolerance for any inappropriate behavior toward women,” said Vandal football coach Paul Petrino in the statement. “This is a serious allegation and I take it as such. The penalties are immediate and substantive.”
Epps
Epps status on the team may be reconsidered after the conclusion of an on-going investigation into the allegations. The investigation will be run through the Dean of Students office.
Earlier this school year, Epps was identified as being involved in an alleged Aug. 16 shoplifting incident at the VandalStore. The VandalStore decided not to press charges on Epps.
After the incident, the football team took immediate disciplinary action in addition to “strict daily behavioral requirements,” for Epps, according to an earlier statement from Petrino.
The allegation is another off-the-field incident for Epps.
In April 2014, Epps was arrested in Pullman on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Months later, Epps was charged for petty theft after allegedly shoplifting items from WinCo in Moscow and was subsequently dismissed from the football team.
Earlier this year, Epps was charged with two misdemeanors for driving without privileges and for driving without a required ignition interlock device.
Epps caught nine passes for 98 yards in Idaho”s 27-13 homecoming win against Louisiana-Monroe Saturday. Epps leads the Sun Belt Conference in receptions per game with 10.2 and leads the conference in receiving yards per game with 126.2. Epps also returns punts and has played some defensive back in recent games.
Epps joined the UI football team in 2013 as a community college transfer and was the team”s leading receiver that season.
Ryan Tarinelli can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @ryantarinelli. Garrett Cabeza contributed to this report.