Oklahoma LB Alexander arrested on two misdemeanors

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Linebacker Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma's leading tackler, said he was trying to stop a fight when he was arrested on two misdemeanor charges. <br/><br/>A police dispatcher said Alexander

Monday, October 16th 2006, 10:37 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Linebacker Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma's leading tackler, said he was trying to stop a fight when he was arrested on two misdemeanor charges.

A police dispatcher said Alexander was arrested about 2 a.m. Sunday on charges of disturbing the peace and interference with official process and later bonded out.

Alexander, a team captain, told The Oklahoma Daily he was in his car with a friend, Jared Scelfo, when James Wheeler stepped in front of the vehicle.

``(Wheeler) walked in front of my car and he said some words,'' Alexander said. ``My friend got out of the car and I was stopping him before he did something stupid. And the cops put us down on the ground and put us in jail.''

Scelfo was arrested on the same charges as Alexander, and Wheeler was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace, interfering with an official process and public intoxication, .

``(Scelfo) is from out of town, I didn't want him to get in trouble out here,'' Alexander told The Daily. ``(The) cops were a bunch of idiots and just threw everybody on the ground.''

Both Alexander and Wheeler told the newspaper they felt police intervention was not necessary.''

``There was not a physical altercation at all,'' Wheeler said. ``(Alexander) didn't push me, I didn't push him.''

Oklahoma associate athletic director for communications Kenny Mossman said coach Bob Stoops was aware of the incident but would not comment until Monday, if at all.

Alexander, considered an NFL prospect, had seven tackles and a diving interception in Oklahoma's 34-9 win against Iowa State on Saturday. The game, during which star tailback Adrian Peterson sustained a broken collarbone that will cause him to miss the rest of the regular season, ended at 2:39 p.m.

Alexander, who leads Oklahoma with 48 tackles, announced in January that he would return for his senior season so he could earn his degree. He had a team-high 102 tackles for the Sooners last season, including 17 for a loss, along with five sacks and two forced fumbles.

After the win against Iowa State, Oklahoma (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) moved from No. 23 to No. 20 in The Associated Press' college football poll.