by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
UNM football player Aleem Harris was arrested on battery and kidnapping charges Friday for his role in a fight with his ex-girlfriend Gladys Clear.
Harris has been charged with four counts of aggravated battery with great bodily harm and one count of kidnapping with great bodily harm. He has been suspended from the team indefinitely by head coach Rocky Long.
The 21-year-old safety was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center on Friday and was later released after posting 10 percent of his $50,000 bond.
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The altercation took place Wednesday at the Redondo Village Apartments when Clear showed up at Harris' dormitory after receiving a text message from him that told her they needed to meet, according to Metropolitan Court records.
Clear broke off their six-month relationship about two weeks before the incident when she found out Harris was engaged to another woman, according to the report.
Campus police received a call from Lovelace Hospital on Gibson Boulevard on Wednesday saying a female UNM student was there in reference to an incident of domestic violence. UNM Police Officer Carissa Seals interviewed Clear at the hospital where she was being treated for her injuries. Clear told Seals that Harris caused the injuries, which included a swollen nose with a red bruise on it and two large bumps on her head, the complaint states.
Clear showed up at Harris's room not expecting a problem because Harris had never been violent with her before, she told police. She took her friend, Jennifer Shaw, with her, the complaint states.
Once she arrived, Harris opened the door, came into the hallway and began to curse at her, according to the report. He pushed her down the hall, and her head hit the wall at least three times. Harris also hit her with the heel of his hand in the nose, and Clear said she heard a loud pop, according to the complaint.
The complaint states that while the incident was happening, Harris said to Clear, "I've never hit a woman, but I'm about to (expletive) you up."
Harris also grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the wall, according to the report. Her head hit the wall, and as she attempted to move Harris' hand she fell down. Harris then continued to push her into the wall, according to the complaint.
Shaw told Harris to stop during the altercation, and Harris' roommate and Lobo football player O.J. Swift tried to break up the fight, the complaint states.
When Shaw went up to Harris to tell him to stop, he raised his hand as if to hit her, the complaint states.
Swift told police after the incident he saw Harris' hand on Clear's throat, and Harris had her pushed up against a wall. Swift said he saw Clear hit Harris too, but he could not give any details to police about it, according to the complaint.
Clear told Seals at the hospital that a doctor had said her nose was fractured, and she should return when the swelling went down for further examination and treatment according to the complaint.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 225-pound Harris from Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., started seven games for the Lobos and was second on the team in tackles with 67.
The junior transfer also had two interceptions. He joined the team in 2005.
