Basketball player D.J. Byrd formally charged with public intoxication

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office filed a formal charge of Public Intoxication on Tuesday against Purdue men’s basketball standout DJ Byrd. 

Byrd was arrested early Friday morning following an altercation at ‘Where Else’ Bar in West Lafayette.

Prosecutors quote Indiana State Trooper Ben Rector as saying he was driving on State Street when he saw a large fight in front of ‘Where Else’ Bar.  As he approached the group, Trooper Rector said he saw one person in the middle of several people who were wearing ‘Where Else’ shirts.  Rector said it appeared the person was trying to get away from the bar’s employees.

Rector said he put the person into double-locked handcuffs, and then identified him as David Jonathan (DJ) Byrd.  Rector said he could smell the odor of alcoholic beverages coming from Byrd. 

At that point, Rector said several West Lafayette Police officers arrived at the bar and told him they had received a call about a fight there.  

Rector said he spoke with a bar employee who told him there had been an altercation at the bar and employees were trying to remove Byrd. 

The employee said Byrd bit him on the arm.  Rector said he observed a small bite mark on the employee’s right arm, but the employee did not want to file any charges against Byrd. 

The employee told Rector he did not believe Byrd was part of the initial fight, but had “gotten himself involved within the altercation.”

Byrd told Rector  his friend had been grabbed by someone while inside ‘Where Else’ Bar.  Byrd said he tried to help “remove that person from his friend.”  Byrd said that’s when the ‘Where Else’ staff attempted to remove him from the bar.

Rector said Byrd performed a portable breath test, which said Byrd’s blood alcohol content at the time was .219.  The legal limit of intoxication for driving in Indiana is .08. 

Rector said he informed Byrd that he was being arrested for Public Intoxication and Byrd was taken to the Tippecanoe County Jail.

Byrd was released from the jail around 8:30 a.m. Friday.

As a result of the altercation, Byrd served a one-game suspension on Sunday during the Michigan State game.

"I'm super excited to play. It's unfortunate everything that's happened. It's behind us now. I'm ready to come out and give it my all," said Byrd.

During the press conference Tuesday, Byrd addressed his arrest and how he is planning to move on from the incident.

"It's taking responsibility for your actions and being held accountable. I've moved on and I've learned.." said Byrd.

Teammate Kelsey Barlow, who was also involved in the altercation at ‘Where Else’ Bar, was kicked off the team.