Cougs’ Taylor Arrested

Washington State’s Nian Taylor has become the latest name on a lengthening list of Cougar football players to be arrested this off-season.

Taylor, the most productive Cougar receiver last season, was arrested Tuesday in connection with an on-campus domestic assault.

He is under investigation for fourth degree domestic violence and malicious mischief in the third degree, Pullman police said.

Taylor, a 22-year-old senior co-captain, is the sixth Cougar football player to be arrested in the past five months.

According to a Pullman police press release, Taylor is accused of following a 22-year-old woman to her apartment in the 1200 block of NE Hillside, kicking the door off its hinges and throwing the door into the apartment.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Taylor is also accused of grabbing and hitting the female and striking her in the chest with his fist. In addition, he is accused of throwing water on the victim.

The woman was bruised but refused medical attention, the police said.

Taylor, a native of Riverside, Calif. was arrested around noon after police were notified of the incident by a witness.

The witness was able to supply police with a description of Taylor and the license plate number from his vehicle. Taylor was arrested without incident.

Taylor was in Whitman County jail Tuesday night awaiting a court appearance this morning.

WSU coach Mike Price was traveling and not available for comment. In the prior cases involving players this off-season, Price has declined to comment until he has talked with all the parties involved.

Taylor caught 45 passes for 847 yards last season for the 3-8 Cougars. He graduated with a degree in general studies in May.

Taylor, who was admitted to WSU as a partial qualifier and had to sit out his freshman season, still has one year of eligibility remaining.

According to rules adopted by the NCAA in 1997, partial qualifiers, like Taylor, are granted the year of eligibility they missed if they graduate within four years.

While Taylor will be making his first court appearance today, running back Kevin Brown, wide receiver Jason White and defensive back Ramin White will be facing their arraignment on charges of first-degree theft and residential burglary in Whitman County Superior Court this morning.

Brown and the Whites, who are not related, are currently suspended from the team. They will be removed from the team if they plead guilty or are found guilty.

In February, wide receiver Leaford Hackett was arrested following an incident with a security guard at the Palouse Mall. Hackett was not charged and was not suspended from the team.

In March, Price took internal disciplinary action against Milton Wynn, DeAndre Douglas, Curtis Nettles and Jason Pringle for team violations. The players were suspended from mid-March to mid-April.

Following the incident, Price asked former Cougar running back Michael Black to speak to current team members about the troubled past he had endured before arriving at WSU. Black told them how important it was to steer clear of any trouble in school or with the authorities.

LeJuan Gibbons, a senior cornerback, was arrested in May on DUI charges. Charges were dropped, but Gibbons is suspended from the program.