Cops: YSU player breaks water line with punch

By Joe Gorman

jgorman@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A Youngstown State University football player punched a hole in a wall so hard he broke a waterline to a sprinkler system, flooding several rooms in his Wick Oval apartment complex, university police report.

Michael Wheary, 20, of Lakeland, Fla., was arraigned Tuesday in Youngstown Municipal Court via video hookup from the Mahoning County jail on a fourth-degree felony charge of vandalism. Judge Elizabeth Kobly set his bond at 10 percent of $2,500. He has a preliminary hearing set for 10:30 a.m. Nov. 20.

He also has been dismissed from the football team, is suspended from living in any university housing while his case is being investigated, and he can face disciplinary hearings, YSU spokesman Ron Cole said.

Cole said the flooding caused $90,000 in damage. Seven students had to be relocated to other residence halls because of damage to their apartments.

Wheary was a junior wide receiver for the Penguins but has not played this season since suffering a hamstring injury during preseason drills. He played in 11 games his freshman season and 10 last year. He had a total of 23 catches for 289 yards and a touchdown.

YSU football coach Eric Wolford said the decision to dismiss Wheary was a “no-brainer.”

“I’m pretty clear about the way you’re supposed to conduct yourself,” Wolford said.

On Tuesday night, Wheary tweeted, “I love my Youngstown family more than anything on this earth. I’ll always be a Penguin. I love each [and] every one of you.”

Wheary was arrested after a university police officer on patrol on the Wick Oval about 3:20 a.m. Sunday heard a fire alarm at the University Courtyard apartment complex.

The officer stopped to investigate and found water was pouring out the front door, reports said. The officer evacuated the building and was told by two witnesses that Wheary had punched two holes in his wall while arguing with his girlfriend and caused the flood by breaking a waterline to the sprinkler system.

The officer walked into Wheary’s room to look for him but could not find him. The officer said the water was ankle deep and at least six rooms were damaged by water. A manager of the apartment was called and she told police how to turn off the water. Two city fire engines were also on the scene to help with the cleanup, reports said.

Officers eventually found Wheary in another room. He was taken to the university police station and interviewed by a detective. After he was read his rights, reports said he admitted punching the wall and that he left the room because he assumed he would go to jail.

In court, his lawyer, Christopher Maruca, said his client has no prior criminal record and Wheary did not mean to break the waterline. He asked Judge Kobly for a recognizance bond. He said one of the reasons the flooding was so severe was because university police did not know how to shut off the water and they had to wait a long time for instructions on how to do so.

Assistant City Prosecutor Kathy Thompson asked for a $3,500 bond, with 10 percent to be posted, because of the damage.

Before arriving at the $2,500 figure, Judge Kobly said the bond was necessary because of the damage caused by the punches.

“Anybody that hits walls hard enough to break water pipes sounds like a dangerous person to me,” Judge Kobly said.