Cal Bears quarterback Levy involved in bar room scuffle, charged with felony assault

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

June 27, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - The future is uncertain for a third string quarterback turned starter for the University of California, Berkeley football team after an arrest Sunday morning outside a San Francisco bar.

Police detained Steve Levy, a 22-year-old senior at the university, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after an incident at Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub in North Beach at 1:23 a.m., according to Sgt. Neville Gittens.

The incident began inside the bar where Levy and another man started arguing. A bouncer walked up and tried to diffuse the situation by getting between the two, Gittens said.

The bouncer told Levy, listed at just over six feet and 226 pounds on the team's roster, to leave the bar. Levy agreed, Gittens said, but on the way out, Levy allegedly threw a pint glass at the man, hitting him in the forehead. He suffered lacerations near his left eye and the left side of his head.

The athlete left the bar, located at 530 Jackson St., on foot after the incident, but several citizens followed him and detained him at Pacific Avenue and Montgomery Street, Gittens said. Police then showed up and took Levy to jail.

According to the team's coach, Jeff Tedford, Levy will sit out the team's practices until the story becomes clearer.

"We are aware of the situation with Steve," Tedford said. "He will not participate in any team functions until we feel we have all the information."

The university's athletic director, Sandy Barbour, also said she will wait until the investigation is completed.

"We've taken initial action," Barbour said. "We are now gathering information and will take appropriate action when we believe we have the complete facts."

Levy became the starting quarterback for the Bears after the original first-string quarterback broke his leg in the opening game of the 2004-2005 season. Tedford sidelined the second string quarterback because of performance issues and Levy helped the Bears claim victory in the team's last two games of the year. The starting team for the upcoming season has not been announced yet.

The San Francisco district attorney's office today filed a felony assault charge against Levy. He will be in court either Thursday or Friday, according to spokeswoman Bilen Mesfin.

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