Oregon football wide receiver Messiah Hampton on Nov. 12 was charged officially with felony attempting to elude a police officer and misdemeanor reckless driving in Lane County Circuit Court in relation to a high-speed chase with Springfield Police.
Court documents obtained by The Oregonian detail the alleged incident, which took place in the early morning of Oct. 18, hours after Oregon’s late-night home win against Nebraska. Ducks receiver Evan Stewart was cited for a DUII that same night and tight end Jamari Johnson was issued a speeding ticket.
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Both of those cases are resolved and unrelated to the high-speed chase, with Stewart entering a diversion program and Johnson pleading no contest and paying a fine.
Just before 4 a.m. Oct. 18, Springfield officer Joseph Burke conducted a traffic stop near Centennial Boulevard and West Pioneer Parkway and per the probably cause affidavit obtained by The Oregonian, Burke observed the vehicle traveling with three others, all over the speed limit.
Officers later discovered the three vehicles were headed toward a gathering attended by Oregon football players and traveled Interstate 105 at a “very high rate of speed.” Several other officers gave chase at approximately 120 miles per hour to catch up with the vehicles. The front vehicle peeled off on Marcola Road, leaving the officers to pursue the remaining two vehicles, including a Dodge Durango belonging to Hampton.
The Durango appeared to crash into a curb when attempting to turn west on Yolanda Avenue. The officers eventually lost sight of the Durango and pursuit of the other vehicle was abandoned. Hampton’s vehicle was later found parked near a gathering of Oregon football players, but contact with Hampton was not made that night.
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Police said they identified Hampton in video based on clothing that matched posts on his social media. Hampton was then arrested Oct. 30 following an investigation. As of Friday afternoon, no other suspects have been named in relation to the high-speed chase.
Hampton is scheduled to appear in court again for a pre-trial hearing Dec. 17 and will be represented by Eugene criminal defense attorneys Andrew and Andrea Coit.
The freshman receiver from New York is still listed on Oregon football’s official roster and coach Dan Lanning has refused to provide specifics on punishment and discipline for athletes and coaches with criminal charges, including Stewart, Hampton and running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples, who was charged with DUII earlier this year.
Hampton has not played since his arrest Oct. 30, missing both the Northwestern and Ohio State games.
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The Ducks take on Michigan this Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com.
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This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: UO’s Messiah Hampton charged, new details emerge from high-speed chase
