A pitcher on the Ball State University baseball team was suspended after a police officer would not "give him a break."
According to the Ball State University police, Seth Lawrence Hobbs, 20, of Marseilles, Ill., was arrested at about 12:45 a.m. Saturday on suspicion of public intoxication and minor in possession of alcohol.
"Obviously we're disappointed being the under-age and being the first weekend on campus," coach Greg Beals said. "It's obviously a disappointing situation. It's a situation we've acted on, and there will be consequences."
Hobbs declined to comment on the arrest.
According to the police report, a police officer on bicycle patrol on Dill Street saw Hobbs and a woman getting into a car with alcohol. The pair - both of whom appeared to be younger than 21 - had three bottles of Mike's Hard Lemonade and three cans of Bud Light, according to the report.
Hobbs turned his back and began to walk away as the officer approached but returned when the officer gained his attention, according to the report.
Both suspects said they did not have identification on them, according to the report. Hobbs then provided his name and said his birth date was Sept. 9, 1987, which would have made him 21, according to the report.
Dispatch could not find an Illinois driver's license matching Hobbs' description, according to the report. Hobbs then said he made a mistake and his birth date was actually Sept. 9, 1988, and he was 20-years-old, according to the report.
After confirming the birth date through Ball State student files, the officer began to write a citation for Hobbs, who "began demanding a break because it was only his second day in Muncie," according to the report.
Dispatch still could not find a driver's license for Hobbs with the given birth date and the officer asked if he had his Ball State ID, according to the report. Hobbs reached into his rear pocket and pulled out his wallet but quickly put it back and told the officer he forgot he had his wallet in his pocket, according to the
report.
After the officer found Hobbs' driver's license, Hobbs pulled out a beer from his pocket and "again demanded that he get a break," according to the report.
The officer smelled alcohol on Hobbs' breath and noticed his "increasingly rude behavior," according to the report. The officer then handcuffed Hobbs and seated him on the ground while he wrote a citation for the woman on suspicion of illegal possession of alcohol, according to the report.
Before Hobbs was transported to jail, he blew a 0.11 percent blood-alcohol content on a Breathalyzer test, according to the police report. He was then released on $1,500 bond at about 3 a.m., according to jail officials.
Hobbs could face 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine if he is convicted on the public intoxication charge, which is a Class B misdemeanor.
He also could face 60 days in jail and a $500 fine if he is convicted of the minor possession charge, which is a Class C misdemeanor charge.
Beals said Hobbs is suspended and he will evaluate the situation more at a later time. He said he is unsure of how the arrest will affect his playing time.
As a freshman last season Hobbs, who is a right-handed pitcher, did not play.
Hobbs admitted to the arrest, Beals said, which changes the way the situation will be evaluated.
"Part of what we're trying to do is help these guys grow up and become accountable," said Beals, who hopes it is an isolated incident.
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