Former UW football player charged in domestic-violence incident

Former Washington football player Jordan Polk was charged Friday with a domestic-violence crime stemming from property damage he allegedly committed at the home of his ex-girlfriend in February.

The misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to a year in jail, was filed in Seattle Municipal Court by the City Attorney's Office.

Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian said Friday that Polk is no longer with the team.

He said it was decided a few weeks ago that Polk would not return and that the decision was not related entirely to the allegations, saying both sides decided that "he needs a fresh start."

"He's moving on," Sarkisian said. "He will not be back."

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 20.

Seattle police were told that Polk, 21, became jealous after learning that his ex-girlfriend had been celebrating her 21st birthday with her current boyfriend, according to a police report.

Polk repeatedly tried to reach the woman by phone before going to her residence and forcing his way inside, according to the report. He then struck and damaged the door to a room where the woman was sleeping, the report said.

Polk ran away from the house, police were told.

Another resident of the house obtained a temporary order for harassment protection against Polk on Feb. 24. The order was lifted March 8.

Polk, a graduate of Lincoln High School in Portland, played in eight games last season as a junior at receiver and on special teams, officially starting two against Arizona State and Oregon State. He had seven receptions for 94 yards in 2010 and 16 for 191 yards in his three-year UW career.

He was the team's primary kickoff returner as a true freshman in 2008, but those duties had decreased since then and he did not have any returns last season.

He figured to contend for a backup-receiver role this season had he returned.

Polk is the third former or current UW athlete charged with a crime in the past 10 days.

On March 8, men's basketball player Venoy Overton was charged by the Seattle City Attorney's Office with furnishing alcohol to a minor. The gross-misdemeanor charge against him stems from a Jan. 8 incident in which Seattle police say he met with two 16-year-old girls and took them to his sister's apartment in South Seattle. A police report says Overton, 22, furnished the girls with alcohol and engaged in sex acts with both.

Coach Lorenzo Romar suspended Overton for last week's Pac-10 Conference tournament, but he's playing in the NCAA tournament.

Huskies running back Johri Fogerson was charged last Friday with resisting arrest and possession of marijuana in connection with an incident March 3 in Mill Creek. The misdemeanor charges were filed in Snohomish County District Court.

Fogerson was stopped by a State Patrol trooper because a headlight was not working. During the stop, officers discovered marijuana, charging papers say. As police attempted to place him in handcuffs, Fogerson ran away. He turned himself in about three hours later.

Sarkisian said Friday that Fogerson remains indefinitely suspended.

Seattle Times staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan and news researcher Miyoko Wolf contributed to this report, which contains information from Times archives.