FAYETTEVILLE - Former Arkansas football player Josh Melton was arrested Wednesday in the death of a West Fork man.
Police identified the deceased man as Michael Gover.
Melton, 33, was charged with second-degree murder (manslaughter), according to a preliminary Fayetteville Police Department report.
Melton, a Batesville native and center who lettered at Arkansas from 1999 through 2002, was arrested after police responded to a call - made by Melton, according to the report - about a possible dead person at Melton’s residence at 6316 Copper Ridge Lane.
Melton told police dispatchers that he and Gover had been “swapping licks” and that Melton was unable to get Gover to wake up, according to the report.
When police arrived, they found Melton sitting in his driveway, crying and slumped over, the report stated. He had blood on his hands, chest, left arm and feet.
Officers went into the house and tried to render aid to Gover, who also had blood on his face and chest, the report said. An ambulance arrived and it was confirmed Gover had died.
Melton voluntarily went to the police department and agreed to be interviewed by officers after being advised of his rights.
Melton said he and Gover had been drinking at a local restaurant Tuesday night, went to another restaurant to drink and stayed there until it closed at 2 a.m. Wednesday. They then went to Melton’s home and continued to drink.
Melton said he passed out, and when he woke up he discovered that Gover had thrown up in the living room. Melton said he confronted Gover, who responded by making lewd comments and touching Melton inappropriately.
Melton, who is listed at 6-5 and 289 pounds on the Washington County Detention Center’s website, said he became scared, then enraged and punched Gover multiple times.
Gover was still breathing and lying on the living room floor, Melton told police, when Melton went to sleep. Melton woke up later Wednesday morning and found Gover still in the living room and unresponsive.
Melton was cooperative and concerned throughout his interview, the report stated. He said he had no intention of causing Gover’s death.
When police questioned Melton about his comment that he and Gover were “swapping licks,” Melton said he told that to the dispatchers because he knew “he went too far.”
Melton was being held Wednesday night at the Washington County Detention Center. Bail has not been set.
Information for this article was contributed by the Northwest Arkansas Times.
Sports, Pages 17 on 08/29/2013