Police: Pitt DB Knox hit pregnant girlfriend

PITTSBURGH – A Pitt defensive back who was kicked off the team hours before the Panthers’ 31-3 loss to Miami had been arrested the night before for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend after she told him she was pregnant.

Jeffrey Knox Jr., 18, cursed at the woman, slapped her and choked her Wednesday night in front of a dormitory at Chatham University, a smaller private school not far from the Pitt campus, according to a criminal complaint filed by Chatham campus police.

After Thursday’s night’s game, coach Dave Wannstedt called Knox’s actions “very disappointing. Some things we won’t tolerate. That’s one of them.”

Knox, a freshman, didn’t play in the first two games for the 1-2 Panthers, who are losing players to suspension faster than they are losing games.

Offensive lineman Keith Coleman and running back Jason Douglas were also arrested this month and are suspended from the team.

In Knox’s case, Chatham police responded to a 911 call of a man choking a woman. The victim, a Chatham student, told police Knox assaulted her after she found out she was pregnant and called to tell him.

The woman acknowledged trying to hit Knox before he slapped her in the head and knocked her to the ground. Knox then picked up the woman and was choking her against a wall.

Knox is charged with simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.