Suspended Utah WR Cory Butler-Byrd charged with damaging police car, building

Utah suspended senior Cory Butler-Byrd indefinitely last week for unknown reasons. Tuesday, thanks to the Salt Lake Tribune, we learned more about his situation.

The Tribune is reporting that Butler-Byrd was arrested for criminal mischief after damaging a university police building and vehicle on July 27. The 21-year-old receiver is facing a misdemeanor charge. Police documents filed Tuesday show Butler-Byrd admitted he’d broken a window of the police “patrol building” and also shattered a window and dented the roof of a police car.

From the Tribune:

According to the statement of probable cause, two University Police officers responded to a “loud pop and the sound of glass shattering” while working in the police patrol room on South Campus Drive. They ran outside the building and found Butler-Byrd, referred to in documents by his given name Cory Butler, “preparing to throw a large white sign.”

After arresting him, the officers saw that one of the building’s windows was broken. Butler-Byrd told them he had thrown a piece of wood at the window, which shattered it.

One of the officers also noticed that the rear window of his patrol car had been shattered, and the roof had a “large dent” in it. Video footage showed a man jumping up and down on the roof of the car — something police said Butler-Byrd also admitted to. The officers released Butler-Byrd afterward. The damage is estimated to exceed $500.

After beginning his career at the junior college level, Butler-Byrd played both wide receiver and cornerback for the Utes in 2015 but recently made the transition to offense full-time. He played predominantly cornerback last season and also was an impact player on special teams. At corner, he registered 30 tackles, seven passes defended and three interceptions. Butler-Byrd scored on a 98-yard kick return against Fresno State and also blocked a punt vs. USC.

Butler-Byrd only reception was a 56-yard score in a home game against Cal. He was expected to compete for a starting role at wideout, but has been suspended for all of preseason camp. Last week, Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham said the suspension was for “personal issues.”

He has a court date scheduled for Sept. 13.

For more Utah news, visit Utezone.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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