6 Notre Dame players arrested on various charges, with 1 booted and 1 suspended

Update: Notre Dame dismissed Redfield and indefinitely suspended Butler, but the other four are expected to be in Austin on Sunday night.

Six Notre Dame football players were arrested overnight between Friday and Saturday, facing charges ranging from misdemeanor marijuana possession to unlicensed handgun possession and battery.

Five were arrested in Fulton County, Ind., Friday night. Each of those five faces a misdemeanor charge for marijuana possession, and three face an additional charge of handgun possession without a license.

Another player, senior cornerback Devin Butler, was arrested in St. Joseph County shortly after midnight, charged with battery against a police officer and resisting a police officer. According to a probable cause affidavit reported by the Associated Press, officers subdued Butler with a stun gun. Further detail:

South Bend police spokesman Lt. Joe Galea said that after officers broke up a fight inside the bar they saw two women fighting outside when Butler allegedly shoved one of the women. Butler was agitated and when officers told him to back away he allegedly pushed the officers and then attacked one of them.

The affidavit says Butler tackled an officer to the ground, punched him several times in the side and stomach and pulled off his duty belt.

“He shouted profanities at the officers and started swinging his fist,” Galea said of Butler.

Williams, Stepherson and Redfield are the players facing the handgun charge, according to Indiana state police.

Further detail on the stop that kicked all of this off, from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department:

Trooper Reason initiated a traffic stop on a 2007 Ford Focus on U.S. 31, near Fulton County Road 375 North, for allegedly traveling 73 miles per hour in a posted 60 miles per hour zone. The Ford also allegedly had an improper taillight. While Trooper Reason was speaking with the driver, identified as White, he allegedly smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the car. Trooper Reason utilized his narcotics detecting police dog, Cartoush, to conduct a free air sniff around the Ford. The dog indicated the presence of illegal narcotics inside the vehicle. During a subsequent search of the car, officers allegedly found marijuana and a loaded handgun.

The sheriff’s department’s statement only mentions one “loaded handgun,” but three players are facing the charge for unlicensed possession.

Williams, the running back, is a former four-star recruit who has figured to see time in the Fighting Irish offense this season. He carried 21 times for 81 yards and a touchdown last year, his freshman season.

Coney appeared last year in 12 games. A linebacker, he plays a position where the Irish lose several top contributors.

Redfield and Butler have both played for three years in the Irish secondary. White is entering his sophomore year. Stepherson is a three-star receiver heading into his freshman year.

Notre Dame starts its season with a game at Texas on Sept. 4.