Salmon, Nickolus Ply

September 10, 2008

Time now is 1148 hours. Today's date is September 10th, 2008. My name is Detective Terry Jones. My code number's #6354. I'm with the Louisville Metro Police Department. This interview pertains to File #08-197, and uh, this interview is being conducted in the parking lot of PRP High School, at 5601 Greenwood Road. And this interview is of Mr. Nikolus Salmon.

Jones

Mr. Salmon, can you say your, I mean, say your name, please?

Salmon

Nikolus Salmon.

Jones

And you spell your first and last name.

Salmon

N-I-K-O-L-U-S S-A-L-M-O-N.

Jones

And your date of birth?

Salmon Jones

And your address?

Salmon

x

Jones

And phone number?

Salmon Jones

Okay. I'm gonna read somethin' to you. This

Page 2 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

statement is being tape-recorded. Does it meet with your approval? Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

I'm taking this statement in reference to the events on August 20th, 2008 and 08...that occurred during the football...PRP football practice. Please describe the events of 2000...of August 8, 2008, from the beginning to the end of practice. Uh, just give me a uh, an overall of practice that occurred, what, what kind of training took place...that took place on August 20th. that's what...

Salmon

Uh, I was not in because I was uh, on the sideline with a uh, sprained ankle, but I can tell you what I saw. Offense uh, went to they did their stretches, then they did their, or they ran, or did their little bit of like butt-kickers and hineys and then they did their 20's and 30striders...online...20 online, 30-online striders...then they did their stretches, then they went to team take-off, then went in to uh, individuals, and at that time uh, af...after they got their water break and all that, they came, they went back to uh, individuals, and it pretty much goes individuals until about, for about 30...30 minutes to 45 minutes. Then we go to uh, seven on seven. And or right, right before we go to seven on seven, we go a water break. And then in the middle of seven on seven, we got a water break. Uh, am I doin' the day or just overall...

Jones

Uh, yeah, just, just do an overall of that day.

Salmon

All that day...and then we went...and then right

Page 3 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

before we started doin' the uh, gassers, we got a water break and then we, and then that was the end of practice after we did the gassers. Jones

Okay. So the gassers were the last...

Salmon

...Yes, sir...

Jones

...last uh, portion of conditioning that you guys did?

Salmon

yes, sir.

Jones

And gassers, is that considered sprints?

Salmon

Uh, we do sideline to sideline, we go there and back, there and back, is one gasser.

Jones

Okay. And that was the last uh, last uh, portion of training y'all did...

Salmon

Yes, sir...

Jones

...for that day? Is that correct?

Salmon

yes, sir.

Jones

Okay. Uh, how are water breaks given? Individually or as a team?

Salmon

Uh, depending on how we are, it's usually given individually, but then when we're with a team it's with team. I mean like the first part of it will be your coaches, your...like linemen coaches will tell you when to go get water, your receiver coaches will tell you go to when to get water...and all that...and every coach gives it right about the time it's time to go to

Page 4 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

seven on seven. Jones

Okay. So it's, it's safe to say that what you're explainin' to me is that the team's broke down in to groups.

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

And the groups are allowed at certain points to get water on their own, opposite of the team?

Salmon

Uh, when the coach decides uh...

Jones

Now which coach decides?

Salmon

Uh, whatever coach you're with. Like me, I'm with Coach Cook, he'll tell us when to give, give us our water break, and it's usually right before we go to uh, seven on seven or one on one's with, or whatever it is.

Jones

Okay. Okay...so to answer the question how many, how are water breaks given, individually or as a team, what, what'd you classify?

Salmon

I'd pro'bly say individual.

Jones

And you're referring that to individual uh, groups. Correct?

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

Depending on what coach you're under.

Salmon

Yes, sir. Until, and then when we get to teams, and offense verse defense, he'll tell like whoever's in out ones get water, twos get water, threes get water...

Page 5 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

Jones

On August 20th, 2008, how many water breaks did you take?

Salmon

I took none because I was on the sideline, but he gave uh, three or four.

Jones

Okay. You personally did not get one because you were not act...not actually involved in physical training?

Salmon

I was not. I was on the side...

Jones

...'Cause you're, you’re injured you're injured...

Salmon

I was injured, I was on crutches.

Jones

You're injured, on crutches.

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

So you received no water breaks, however you did observe the team take water breaks?

Salmon

Yes.

Jones

Okay.

Salmon

I could o' took a water break but like I didn't think I needed it. I was sittin' on the sidelines.

Jones

Okay. After the last water break, what did the practice consist of?

Salmon

Uh, we did...after the last one we did the gassers.

Jones

And why was the team running gassers or

Page 6 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

sprints? Salmon

Because we were not going full-speed, we were having, we were doing half-speed on everything.

Jones

So the team was not practicing properly or you said going half-speed?

Salmon

We were doing, we were doing what we were supposed to, but only at half the speed they wanted us to go at. Instead of going full...instead of going like 100 miles per hour, goin' 50, 45..somethin' like that.

Jones

So safe to say you're tellin' me that the team was only practicing half-speed?

Salmon

Most of the team was and that's why we started runnin'.

Jones

How many sprints did your group run?

Salmon

Uhm...

Jones

but you didn't run any. Right?

Salmon

right.

Jones

So you're...

Salmon

But, but what I saw, I saw eight in full gear, and then I saw uh, two with no helmets and then two more with no equipment except the pants.

Jones

Okay.

Page 7 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

Salmon

like if you had a shirt on, you...

Jones

But, but what I'm asking you personally, you ne...you did not participate because...

Salmon

...I did not, did not run...

Jones

...because you were injured, injured on the sideline with, on crutches. Correct?

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

Okay. So the next question will be how many sprints did you run before taking off gear that would also apply as none. Because you were off on crutches. You present at the practice but on the sideline.

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

Okay.

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

How long do you think the team was running sprints?

Salmon

Uh, 30 minutes, tops. I wouldn't even say 30 minutes. I, I'm guessin', that's an estimated time.

Jones

Did you or any of your teammates ask for water breaks or try to get water during the running of sprints?

Salmon

Uh, not to my knowledge. What I saw you know, ask for water.

Page 8 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

Jones

Did you or any of your teammates become ill during the running of sprints?

Salmon

Umm, I can't really answer that 'cause I wasn't out there with them. I was sittin' on the bench back there.

Jones

Okay. Okay...uh, but do you remember any teammates of yours becoming ill?

Salmon

No, like, alright, when you say "ill" do you mean like sick or...

Jones

Sick, ill, uh, uh...anything that would prevent them from doing further practicing?

Salmon

I, I...I really can't say because I was not out there with them and I could not see people's...I couldn't see all the way down the line, someone might have, I could not tell. I mean I don't, I really can't answer that one.

Jones

Okay. Well, you're, you know, it's a yes or no, you can say no, I didn't, did you...

Salmon

No, I didn't see anybody.

Jones

Okay. During any practices this year have you personally seen or heard of any teammates being injured or quitting the team?

Salmon

I have not seen none in...I've seen one injured, but because he did not uh, tackle right, and what was the other one...teammate...I've seen teammates quit because they thought that they didn't have to do somethin' and they didn't do it and they decided on their self uh, on uh, on us instead of like...

Page 9 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

Jones

Okay. So one player was injured during uh, from practicing...

Salmon

Uh...

Jones

...and...

Salmon

...I gotta take that back 'cause we have uh, two uh, with me, there was uh, a total of three people injured...me, Matt Ballard, and Chase Pierce somethin'...

Jones

You said Matt Ballard...

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

And who was the other player?

Salmon

Chase Pierce, I do believe. They were uh, the other one was not there at the practice...Michael Laird. He was also injured.

Jones

So to answer the question again, uh, during any practices this year, have you personally seen or heard of any teammates being injured or quitting the team, you stated that three players uh, injured from practicing, were Matt Ballard...

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

...uh, Chase Pierce...

Salmon

...Yes, sir...

Jones

...and yourself?

Page 10 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

Okay. And you said another person, but he was not present?

Salmon

He was not present.

Jones

okay. Uh, and you said someone had quit the team, you recall?

Salmon

Uh, I recall two, three people quitting the team.

Jones

And you know who they were? Or just...were they under classmen, upperclassmen..

Salmon

...Uh, they were freshmen, I believe. Yeah, freshmen.

Jones

You don't remember their names?

Salmon

Uh, no, sir, I cannot tell you their names. I...

Jones

So there freshman players quit.

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

Has anyone influenced you in any way to withhold information or change any of the facts that actually occurred during the practice? This, this is the August 20th practice.

Salmon

...No, sir.

Jones

Is this statement truthful?

Salmon

Yes, sir.

Jones

Do you have anything else to add?

Page 11 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

Salmon

Uh, no.

Jones

Okay. With no further questions for Mr. Salmon, we will go off tape. And we will conclude at 1159 hours.

Page 12 of 12 Statement: Nikolus Salmon / Case #08197(g) September 10, 2008

END OF STATEMENT File #08197gjones-ks