Charges ignored for former Flyers star accused of attacking girlfriend

Jun. 5—A Montgomery County grand jury has decided to ignore charges for a former University of Dayton basketball star accused of attacking a woman late Sunday, May 3 in Dayton.

Roosevelt Chapman Jr., 64, was previously charged in Dayton Municipal Court with abduction and misdemeanor assault.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, Chapman approached a police officer at about 11:22 p.m.

Officers were dispatched to the first block of South Main Street on a report of suspicious circumstances, according to Dayton Police Lt. Eric Sheldon in a separate statement.

Sheldon said police officers met with a man who said he was in a vehicle crash near the intersection of Third Street and James H. McGee Boulevard.

“He stated his vehicle was disabled and wanted help getting home,” Sheldon said. “An officer drove the male to his home and on the way, the male made several comments that led officers to investigate after dropping the male off at his home. Officers located the male’s vehicle with a blown-out tire and dried blood inside the vehicle.”

According to the affidavit, Chapman also said that he was unsure where he left his vehicle, and that he had been in a fight with his girlfriend.

Police found the woman the next day, the affidavit said, and saw that she had sustained several injuries, and had a swollen face, blackened fingers and bruises on her torso.

The woman said that Chapman was taking her home when he suddenly did a U-turn to take her back to his home. She said she grabbed the steering wheel, causing them to hit the curb and blow the tire.

She said that Chapman then began to hit her, punching her in the head multiple times before dragging her out of the vehicle and continuing to punch and kick her on the ground. A passerby stopped when they saw her being attacked, the affidavit said.

She said “she only wanted to go home but Mr. Chapman did not want her to leave.”

Chapman, a 6-foot-4 guard, is the all-time leading scorer for the Dayton Flyers men’s basketball program, scoring 2,233 points in four seasons from 1980-84.

As a senior, he starred for a team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. Current Flyers coach Anthony Grant was a freshman on that team.