U football player charged with assault

By JIM FOTI, Star Tribune

Last update: December 31, 2007 - 11:31 PM

A University of Minnesota football player has been charged with two counts of fifth-degree assault after an altercation early Sunday outside a bar in McLeod County.

William VanDeSteeg was arrested about 1:10 a.m. outside the Biscay Liquor Store, accused of assaulting two men who were left with "visible physical injuries," according to documents filed by the McLeod County Sheriff's Office. One of the men told authorities that VanDeSteeg grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

VanDeSteeg, 22, was released from jail after a court appearance Monday.

Charlotte Bruns, assistant manager of Biscay Liquors, an on- and off-sale bar and restaurant, said Monday the altercation occurred in the parking lot and she didn't witness VanDeSteeg's involvement. "When he was in here, he was a perfect gentleman," she said. "It's bad publicity for us," she said. "We don't have fights like this."

University athletic officials said little Monday evening. "We are still in the process of collecting all the details. It would be premature for me to comment," football coach Tim Brewster said via e-mail. "When I have all the details, I will issue a statement."

VanDeSteeg, a 6-4, 255-pound defensive end, was limited by shoulder and right wrist injuries in the 2007 season. He played in 10 games, making 29 tackles, 20 of them unassisted and eight for loss of yardage. He became a team captain after the 2006 season in which he had 40 tackles and 10 sacks.

VanDeSteeg graduated from high school in the Glencoe-Silver Lake district. Biscay is about 50 miles west of the Twin Cities and 7 miles northwest of Glencoe.

Jim Foti • 612-673-4491

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