A highly ranked recruit for the University of Colorado football team has been arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.
Boulder police said that 18-year-old Lynn Katoa, a middle linebacker, turned himself in today in connection with the assault of another CU student in an off-campus apartment last month.
Katoa, a Parade All-American linebacker from Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City, picked Colorado over Oklahoma in early December after he was visited by seven CU coaches.
He is 6-foot-2 and weighs 220 pounds.
Sarah Huntley, spokeswoman for the Boulder Police Department, said witnesses claimed that a member of the football team — later identified as Katoa — came through a door of the apartment yelling. He allegedly pushed one victim’s head into a wall and hit him in the forehead while holding a rock in his fist.
Huntley said Katoa then allegedly punched a second victim in the head.
The first victim was taken to the hospital and required stitches. The second victim declined to pursue charges.
The incident occurred at an apartment in the 1000 block of 12th Street early on the morning of Feb. 16.
Investigators said that the altercation in the apartment stemmed from an earlier confrontation outside the apartment, during which one of Katoa’s friends was shocked with a stun gun. Investigators said the men with the stun gun took off in a vehicle.
It was at that point, Huntley said, that Katoa, angered by what happened to his friend, picked up the rock and confronted the occupants he is accused of assaulting.
Huntley said the occupants of the fleeing car have not been identified but that police are attempting to find them.
Huntley said that Boulder detectives were in contact with both Katoa’s lawyer and the CU coaching staff before the time he turned himself in today.
Katoa was booked into the Boulder County Jail, with bail set at $5,000. He was expected to bond out, according to the spokeswoman.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Kristi Peterson at 303-441-3330. Those with information who wish to remain anonymous should contact Boulder Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222TIPS or 1-800-444-3776.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
