Student claims she was punched by Kentucky Football player at fraternity party

One of the students who attended the March 6 off-campus fraternity party during which a fight took place involving Kentucky Football players is speaking out.

Olivia Tutt tells the Courier-Journal she was hit by defensive back Andru Phillips, once on the arm and once on the hip, when the players crashed the party hosted by Alpha Sigma Phi. At the time, she said the lights in the house were turned off.

“I turned my (phone) flashlight on because I couldn’t see anything and one of the guys ran up to me and took my phone and threw it on the ground. I assumed he thought I was recording. By the time I picked up my phone off the ground and turned around, one of my friends, Ty Burke, was being dragged across the living room floor. There were like six guys on top of him, going at his face.

“I ran in to push people off of him. One of the guys was Andru Phillips, who turned and hit me twice. By that time, people started running out through the front door and I’m like screaming like everyone else to get out. It was very quick, but it seemed like it was forever.”

Courier-Journal

Andru Phillips cleared by UK Office of Student Conduct in April

Tutt’s account does not match the one in the UK Office of Student Conduct’s report about the incident. UK Office of Student Conduct Assistant Director Libby Hogan cleared Phillips of any wrongdoing in April. Phillips’ father, Carlos, shared the report from UK online this week.

“Andru Phillips has been found not responsible for violating Code of Student Conduct policy L. Harm and Threat of Harm. The incident report states that a physical fight occurred at an off-campus house affiliated with a fraternity. Through an investigation, Phillips was identified as participating in the altercation. Phillips stated that he was at the house where the altercation happened but arrived as it was ending. Phillips reports that he only went a few feet into the house to check on everyone before stepping back outside and leaving. Phillips stated that he did not hit anyone and that he was not hit by anyone. Witnesses confirm that Phillips was present at the gathering and that he entered the house. The witnesses also confirm that Phillips did not have a weapon and that they didn’t see him engaged in fighting. As a result, AD Hogan found Phillips not responsible.”

The UK Office of Student Conduct cleared all six players — Phillips, RJ Adams, JuTahn McClain, Earnest Sanders, Joel Williams, and Vito Tisdale — in June; however first-degree burglary charges were filed on August 19. Tisdale is also charged with wanton endangerment for allegedly brandishing a firearm. Last Wednesday, all six players pleaded not guilty to the burglary charges and waived their right to a preliminary hearing in Fayette District Court. The case will now go to a grand jury. 

Three partygoers did not see a gun

Tutt, Elon Michael, and a third partygoer who spoke under the condition of anonymity all told the Courier-Journal they did not see a gun at the party. Another fraternity member who also wishes to remain anonymous claims Tisdale pushed him against a wall, punched his girlfriend in the face, and had a gun tucked into his pants.

Earlier this week, friends and family of Tisdale released the report from the UK Office of Student Conduct. While the hearing board determined Tisdale participated in the fight, they agreed there was not enough evidence to say with certainty he had a gun. The hearing board determined all reports of a gun or guns were “hearsay,” including that there was nothing in the police report about a gun being found on any persons. They also note that the witness accounts of Tisdale having a gun are “inconsistent.”

The report also includes testimony from Tisdale’s roommate, Ruben Adams, who was at the party and said he has never seen Tisdale with a gun, including at the party that night. Former LMPD Homicide Sergeant and Kentucky State Representative Denny Butler is working with the players on the case and called into KSR Tuesday and said Tisdale passed a polygraph test stating he did not have a gun at the party; however, polygraphs are not admissible in court.

GoFundMe for attorney fees now at $20,000

Butler and a group formed to fight wrongful convictions set up a GoFundMe page to hire representation for two or three players that cannot afford it, including Tisdale. The page, “Defense fund for 6 innocent UofK football players,” went live on Tuesday with the goal of raising $250,000 for attorney’s fees for the players. Any remaining money will be donated to the 22 Oats Strong GoFundMe for Chris Oats’ rehabilitation. So far, they have raised over $20,000.

Mark Stoops stands by his players

On Monday, Mark Stoops said that between UK’s investigation and the current charges, the six players have been away from the team for at least 13 weeks.

“I appreciate the university and the way they went through a thorough investigation and cleared our players and the way they went about it and gave them a fair process. I greatly appreciate them. If I had any evidence whatsoever that our players are doing something that needs to be addressed, we have no problem with addressing that and disciplining our players. We’ll continue to evaluate that process and see how it plays out.

“We have been patient. Our players have been patient and you have to trust the system; that gets hard. Our players have been out a long time. They missed probably 13, 14 weeks of time on the field right now with this situation. I have to believe in this system.”