Free-agent NBA center Greg Oden was charged Monday with with felony battery resulting in serious bodily injury, misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor battery resulting in serious bodily injury. The alleged battery occurred early Thursday morning.
According to police, a witness at a home in the 7200 block of Maple Bluff Place in Lawrence, Ind., claims Oden struck a woman in the face during a dispute. The victim, a former girlfriend of the player, was bloodied but refused medical attention at the scene.
She refused to cooperate with police.
According to a police report, the 26-year-old Oden was cooperative.
"Things got out of control and I started to go after the victim," Oden said. "My relative and witness tried to hold me back, but as I swung my arms to move them out of the way, then punched the victim in the face. I was wrong and I know what has to happen."
The police report described the victim as having swelling to the nose and lacerations to the forehead and nose area. Police also observed blood on the floor and sofa. There was blood on the living room carpet and dirt from a flower pot that had been knocked over.
Oden was an All-America player at North Lawrence High School. He attended Ohio State for one year before entering the 2007 NBA Draft, where he was the No.1 overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Injuries, however, have prevented Oden from reaching his potential as a professional athlete. He played sparingly during the 2013-2014 season with the Miami Heat -- appearing in just 23 regular-season game, while posting averages of 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds.
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