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Freshman Justin Watkins announced Friday morning that he will be leaving the University of Florida. This was the tweet he posted at 11 a.m. stating he was leaving “to better” his opportunities:
This all comes after Watkins was arrested and faces four charges including two third-degree felonies for false imprisonment/kidnapping, domestic battery by strangulation, and two first degree misdemeanors for battery, according a police report on July 20.
According to the police report, Watkins struck a woman on both sides of her head and pinned her down to a bed, choking her while pinning her down on a bed and attempted to stop her from leaving his dorm room by blocking the exit.
The woman sprayed him with mace in self defense, according to the police report. Police say he chased the woman out of his apartment and threw a hairbrush and “hair grease” at her causing injury to the woman.
Watkins was immediately suspended from all team activities following the news. His bail was set at $40,000 on Wednesday and he was also released then.
Since then, the tweet has been deleted from Watkins’ account. WRUF is waiting for comment regarding the situation from the University Athletic Association, and will update when it becomes available.
