Fight Near Co-Op Puts Resident In Hospital

Correction Appended

A confrontation Saturday night between a co-op resident and a man whose attorney said he is a member of the Cal rugby team left the resident in the hospital with severe head injuries.

UC Berkeley senior and Andres Castro Arms resident Charles Rochon said he is working with speech therapists at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center after a blow to his head caused a skull and jaw fracture and brain damage.

Berkeley police Officer Ed Galvan said police responded to an assault at Prospect Street and Channing Way Saturday night, but said he could not release the names of those involved as the investigation is still ongoing.

The player’s attorney, who said he wanted to remain anonymous due to the ongoing status of the investigation, confirmed that the man involved in the confrontation is a member of the Cal rugby team.

The incident began around 10:30 p.m. Saturday after the rugby team had won the national championship title. Several members of the co-op said they heard a window of their house being broken and went outside to find who had broken it.

Outside, Rochon said he questioned a man who he saw run across the street and who then grabbed his throat and pushed him to the ground.

Rochon said the man, who was wearing Cal rugby clothing, was then joined by other nearby team members, prompting him to call 911.

But the player’s attorney said his client was attacked aggressively by Rochon and that he did not break the window.

“The only attack that occurred was what (Rochon) initiated against my client,” the attorney said.

Although he said his client is a member of the rugby team, the attorney said the incident is not linked to the Cal Athletics Department in any way.

Rugby coach Jack Clark said he was not aware of the incident and declined to comment further.

The attorney said because his client is not currently being charged with or accused of any crimes, he would not release the player’s name.

The players began to leave in a truck that pulled up, at which point co-op resident Andre Bastos, who left the house with Rochon, said the player involved in the initial confrontation hit Rochon in the side of the head, rendering him unconscious for 30 seconds.

But the attorney said the blow was delivered in response to Rochon grabbing his client by the throat.

“It was total self-defense,” he said. “I feel comfortable I can prove it beyond any doubt.”

Rochon said he initially refused to be taken to a hospital but admitted himself to Alta Bates Sunday.

Rochon said he plans to press charges against the man who hit him.

“I feel like all the external stuff can heal but since I found my brain was damaged it’s had a much greater impact,” he said.

Correction: May 14, 2007

Thursday’s article “Fight Near Co-Op Puts Resident in Hospital” incorrectly stated that Charles Rochon is a student at UC Berkeley. In fact, Rochon is a student at San Francisco State University.

The Daily Californian regrets the error.

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