Third Saskatchewan Roughrider charged in assault case

REGINA – Police confirm a third Saskatchewan Roughrider has been charged in connection with an assault that saw two other Rider football players in court on Thursday.

Eron Lamar Riley, 26, has also been charged with aggravated assault.

Regina police slapped 32-year-old Dwight Anderson and 29-year-old Tajiddin Smith Wilson (Taj Smith) with the same charge earlier in the week.

All three Rider players have been ordered to stay out of bars and abstain from alcohol and drugs. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 8.

In the early-morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 18, police were called to a nightclub on Dewdney Avenue where a group of people were involved in a fight. When officers arrived they found a 20-year-old man suffering from serious injuries that were consistent with a physical altercation, police said.

Surveillance footage shows a group gathered at the front of Bushwakker Brewpub. Another angle shows the fracas.

Riders GM Brendan Taman just hopes no other players will face charges stemming from the incident.

“When asked yesterday, I said there was none,” he said. “So when you ask me that today, I don’t believe there are more to come, but I guess they say things happen.”

Former Riders defensive back Tamon George said it can be hard to be a member of the team at a nightclub.

“It becomes difficult when people believe they have the right to speak with you in any kind of way, much as they do at a game or as they watch TV,” he explained.

George took to Twitter, with tweets like: “Everyone in the #yqr is tweetin on this Rider brawl.. Every washed up on time HS athlete is looking to “test their strength” against a pro” and “Imagine what u hear ppl say at a #rider game about a guy for a bad play. Add booze, they’ll say it to ur face on Dewdney.”

“I have many times had to see guys back away from a situation before it gets to that extent,” George explained. “But at times, obviously you want to stand up for yourself.”

He said the players need to keep it reined in because Regina is like a fishbowl and everyone knows who they are.

They are always under the microscope and so too, were the coaches on Friday. They decided to start Anderson and Smith against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday. Riley is on the nine-game injured list.

“They were charged, there’s no doubt, and when proven guilty — if proven guilty — that will be the next step,” said Taman. “If they’re not guilty, I would be hard pressed to feel very comfortable benching guys when they’re innocent.”

The team said the players may still face repercussions once more information comes out.

Below is security footage of the incident:

Bushwakker Security footage from the back alley below: