MTSU's Bryson now faces assault charge

MURFREESBORO — An MTSU running back was arrested twice over the weekend for two unrelated charges, law enforcement officials with Rutherford County and the town of Smyrna told The Daily News Journal.

Smyrna Police Department spokesman Bobby Gibson said Jeremiah Bryson was arrested on a simple assault charge in relation to an incident that happened in Smyrna this past Thursday.

While he was being booked, it was discovered Bryson had an attachment order for child support in juvenile court, the arrest report stated.

The initial incident happened in the 400 block of Mill Circle in Smyrna, Gibson said.

Gibson said Bryson was arrested Sunday on the simple assault charge.

Initial reports from the Smyrna Police Department said Bryson was arrested Monday around noon.

However according to an SPD arrest report, Bryson turned himself in to authorities on Sunday for the simple assault charge.

Bryson was booked and given a court date of Oct. 27 for the charge out of Smyrna.

"This is news to me, and it's different than what I talked about earlier Tuesday," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "I don't know all the facts, and I'm anxious to read the (police) report.

"It will give me a chance to talk to Jeremiah because I haven't talked about it yet. I won't rush to judgment, and there are two sides to every story and until I hear his side of it, I am going to reserve my comments."

After the attachment order was found, Bryson was picked up by a Rutherford County deputy in Smyrna, according to the arrest report.

He was booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center just after 10 a.m. Sunday and was released nearly five hours later.

The Smyrna native rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s 58-28 loss to Western Kentucky in Bowling Green.

Bryson was present at Tuesday's practice.

"It's a personal matter, and it is my understanding that Jeremiah and his family have handled the situation," Stockstill said in a statement early Tuesday to The Daily News Journal.

As of late Tuesday, Bryson is cleared to play Saturday against Florida International, said Mark Owens, MTSU’s associate athletics director for communications,

Marchesoni said Bryson is scheduled to appear Dec. 10 in juvenile court.

Reach Aldo Amato at 615-278-5109 and on Twitter @Aldo_Amato