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Duke lacrosse players in trouble before

20 crimes in past year include underage drinking, public urination, noise

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Duke Rape Investigation
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WNCN-TV
updated 7:42 p.m. ET April 2, 2006

DURHAM, N.C. - The March 13 off-campus party at which a woman was allegedly beaten and raped wasn't the first legal run-in for members of the Duke University men's lacrosse team, WNCN-TV reported Thursday.

WNCN-TV has uncovered court documents showing 15 members of the lacrosse team have been charged with at least 20 crimes in the past year. The charges include underage drinking, public urination, excessive noise and one instance in which a Duke student's debit card was stolen and used to purchase $100 in food.

"No wonder Durham hates us," one student said as she reviewed a stack of citations involving lacrosse team players.

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"From the looks of that, it looks like they don't really take their season as seriously as they should in terms of staying out of trouble," student Chris Destasio said.

Duke sports information officials said police usually tell university officials when athletes are cited for crimes. Disciplinary policies are in place, the officials said, but they declined to discuss past violations involving lacrosse players.

An exotic dancer has told Durham police that she was performing for a March 13 party at a Buchanan Street house where lacrosse team members live when she was pulled into a bathroom, beaten and raped.

No charges have been filed in the case, but 46 members of the lacrosse team have provided authorities with DNA samples.

Team members have denied the allegations, but the case has split the Durham campus.

Crowds of students have rallied in recent days against violence and demanded a swift and stern response from university administrators. Others have cautioned against deeming the lacrosse players guilty before all of the evidence is in.

An unidentified woman driving past the house Wednesday afternoon stopped and got out of her car, ran up to the house and ripped down signs hung on the porch in support of the lacrosse players before driving off.

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"I think there's going to have to be some serious action," student Lisa Bonnifielva said. "There's no way we can keep this level of tension that there is right now. It's just unbelievable."

Duke President Richard Brodhead on Tuesday said the lacrosse team wouldn't play any more games this season until the investigation of the rape case is completed. On Wednesday morning, he met with concerned students behind closed doors.

"It's hurting the community. It's just a tough situation all the way around," student Baldeep Tavla said.


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