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2 Duquesne basketball players arrested in South Side

PITTSBURGH — Two Duquesne University basketball players were arrested over the weekend on the South Side, and will now face the university’s Board of Judicial Affairs.

Police said officers spotted a man sucker-punching a pedestrian about 1 a.m. Saturday. When officers tried to arrest the man, later identified as Jeremiah Jones, officials said he took off running with fellow teammate Micah Mason.

According to the criminal complaint, the chase lasted about six blocks and eventually ended at the intersection of Sarah and South 15th streets.

Jones was arrested and charged with simple assault, escape and public drunkenness.

Mason was charged with changing his birth date on his driver’s license. According to police, Mason admitted that he altered the date on his license to make it look as if he was older by using nail-polish remover.

Both players were in the starting lineup for the Dukes last season.

The university's athletic department released a statement Monday saying, "The department of athletics is aware of the incident and is in the process of gathering additional information. The matter will be addressed in accordance with the University’s judicial affairs process."

Channel 11's Alan Jennings talked with one South Side resident on Monday who's tired of the violence.

“We are very familiar with the South Side. The South Side is out of control and the councilman needs to get his act together, you know, make things right,” Dave Santa said.

Santa is referring to Councilman Bruce Kraus. His office did not respond to Jennings’ request for comment on Monday.