In a disturbing turn of events, University of Dayton legend Roosevelt Chapman Jr.—the Flyers' all-time leading scorer—finds himself on the wrong side of the law. The basketball icon, who electrified fans during his college career from 1980 to 1984, was arrested earlier this week and now faces serious charges that have sent shockwaves through the Dayton sports community.
According to Dayton Municipal Court records, Chapman was charged on Wednesday with felony abduction and misdemeanor assault. The allegations stem from an incident that unfolded late Sunday night, when Chapman approached a Dayton officer near Third Street and James H. McGee Boulevard around 11:30 p.m. He claimed he had been in a car accident and couldn't remember where he left his vehicle.
During that initial conversation, Chapman reportedly told the officer he had argued with a woman known to him, but she was nowhere to be found—at least not at first. When authorities located the car, they noticed blood on the passenger side, raising immediate red flags.
The next day, police tracked down the woman Chapman mentioned. What they found was deeply troubling: visible injuries including a swollen face and bruises across her torso. Her account painted a harrowing picture of what happened. She told police that Chapman was driving her home when he suddenly made a U-turn in the middle of the road, heading back toward his own residence. In a moment of panic, she grabbed the steering wheel, causing the car to strike a curb and blow a tire.
What happened next, according to court records, is even more alarming. Chapman allegedly struck her at least four times in the head, then exited the vehicle and forcibly dragged her out. A passerby reportedly witnessed the woman being kicked and punched on the ground. While the victim herself couldn't recall that part of the assault, her injuries matched the witness's observations.
Chapman was arrested on Monday and remains in the Montgomery County Jail. For Flyers fans, this is a stark fall from grace for a player who once lifted the program to new heights. Chapman led the University of Dayton to the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight in 1984, cementing his legacy by scoring 2,233 points—a record that still stands today.
As the legal process unfolds, the Dayton community is left grappling with the contrast between the player who brought so much joy to the court and the serious allegations now facing him. News Center 7's Mike Campbell will have more details on the case during tonight's broadcast at 5:00 p.m.