UMKC senior guard Martez Harrison has been dismissed from the basketball program and suspended from school, for a year, following a Title IX investigation into his behavior.
Harrison was the second-leading scorer for the Kangaroos. He had missed the team’s last five games after being suspended indefinitely, when the Title IX investigation was opened.
“After further investigation, [we] just thought it was the correct thing to do,” UMKC head coach Kareem Richardson told reporters Tuesday.
Richardson would not say what prompted the investigation. Title IX also prohibits him or the university from disclosing what exactly the 5-foot-11 guard could have done.
A police report obtained by 41 Action News describes an incident between Martez and the mother of his child. The woman claims Martez choked and slapped her when they were arguing. She also claims she was held against her will overnight. In the morning, she claims the victim took their child and threatened to drive off a bridge.
The child was returned to the woman unharmed and Martez was taken into custody. He also claimed to police he never hit the victim.
On Tuesday night, a friend of Harrison said details of the case shocked him.
"I've hung out with him many times," explained former UMKC track athlete Darrell Satterfield. "He's never been the type to go off or storm off. He really handles himself well."
Satterfield told 41 Action News he never saw the side of Harrison described to police by the woman.
"He's never been a negative person," he said. "It's always good vibes whenever I'm around him. He's a good guy."
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title IX is a federal mandate that covers a broad scope from sexual harassment to sexual violence. It automatically protects any individual who reports sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual violence against retaliation.
“Any type of Title IX complaint is pretty serious,” said Marie Alcocer, coordinator of advocacy for Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA). “It sends a message that Title IX is being responsive.”
UPDATE 12/14: Charges against Kansas University basketball player Carlton Bragg have been dropped and his girlfriend is now facing battery charges.
The following is based on information 41 Action News obtained when he was initially charged.
UMKC’s announcement follows the high-profile arrest of another five-star basketball recruit— University of Kansas basketball player Carlton Bragg, who was arrested and charged last week for misdemeanor battery.
According to the police report, Bragg’s girlfriend told police the athlete pushed her and shoved her down the stairs. Bragg plead not-guilty on Friday and was released.
On Saturday, he could be seen at the KU game sitting on the bench.
“I think if they were going to let him come to the game he should have bought his own ticket and set up in the cheap seats like everybody else,” said Richard Dhams, who wrote an angry editorial to the local paper.
Dhams spoke with 41 Action News over the phone to explain his opinion.
"You can wait around all you want for the criminal process to take it’s course but most of these guys get deals because they are athletes,” he said.
KU’s head coach Bill Self says he will not comment on the charges but the school will investigate what happened. Until a decision is made, Bragg will remain on the bench— a similar process to what UMKC did with Harrison when the Title IX investigation was launched.
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Ariel Rothfield can be reached at Ariel.Rothfield@KSHB.com.
