4-22 Crusoe Football

by J.R. Oppenheim and Thomas Romero-Salas sports@dailylobo.com The UNM Police Department arrested a Lobo football player yesterday on charges of kidnapping and rape. Crusoe Gongbay, a 20-year-old junior running back, turned himself over to the police shortly after 5 p.m. and faces two counts of criminal sexual penetration, one count of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy. Gongbay is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center with his bond set at $50,000. UNMPD also arrested a second suspect, 21-year-old Ryan Ruff, who is not a student at UNM. He turned himself in soon after Gongbay, and his bond is set at $100,000. The department is seeking a third individual in connection with the assault in question, which allegedly occurred April 13, but that person has not yet been identified. UNMPD public information officer Lt. Tim Stump said the third individual has been described as a 6-foot-tall, 180-pound male with dark complexion, short hair on the sides and longer hair on the top of his head. UNM head football coach Bob Davie said in a statement that the team has suspended Gongbay indefinitely. “Once this process is complete and all the details have emerged, we will handle the outcome appropriately,” Davie said. “As this is an ongoing situation, we will not be able to comment any further at this time.” On April 13, Stump said, a female student returned to her dorm room and told a community assistant that she was a victim of a sexual assault. Stump said the assault allegedly took place in a moving vehicle, but he did not provide further details of the incident. The victim was transported to a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Unit, and evidence was collected and sent to the state crime lab, Stump said. “Any incident like this we take as serious in nature, no matter what’s going on around the world or here,” he said. UNM Dean of Students Tomas Aguirre said his office has met with the victim and her family, and has offered the victim any support and accommodations she might require. “We have also connected her with the various resources available to her both on and off campus, including the UNM Women’s Resource Center and the Rape Crisis Center of New Mexico,” Aguirre said in a statement. “Since this is an open investigation, we are unable to provide any other details at this time.” Gongbay was projected to be the starting running back after the loss of former starter Kasey Carrier, who led the Lobos in rushing for two straight seasons. Gongbay was UNM’s top rusher in 2011 with 500 yards, but skipped the 2012 spring practice while he contemplated transferring to another school. Gongbay had 97 rushing attempts and accumulated 592 yards for a 6.1 yards-per-carry average in 2013. Prior to Gongbay’s arrest, Davie had spoken about using a stable of running backs this upcoming season. The Lobos will now likely turn to players such as Jhurell Pressley, Teriyon Gipson and David Anaya, all of whom have in-game experience. Romell Jordan is also back for UNM, but he was redshirted last year. Stump asked for people with information on Ruff or the third individual to contact UNMPD at 505-277-2241.