Sweat, Charles Ply

September 10, 2008

The time is 7:40 p.m., the date is September 10th, 2008. This is in reference to Case #08197, speaking is Sergeant Denny Butler with the Louisville Metro Police Homicide Unit.

Butler

And, I am with, if you would state your full name for me?

Sweat

Charles Sweat.

Butler

Charles Sweat? Can you spell your last name?

Sweat

S-W-E-A-T.

Butler

And, your date of birth?

Sweat Butler

Okay. And, your address?

Sweat

x

Butler

And, phone number?

Sweat Butler

And, your mom is also present, is that correct?

Sweat

Yes.

Sandlin

Yes.

Page 2 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Butler

And, mom what is your full name?

Sandlin

Kimberly Sandlin.

Butler

And, this statement is being tape recorded, does that meet with both your approval?

Sandlin

Yes.

Sweat

Yes.

Butler

Okay. Uh, I’m taking this statement in reference to the events on August 20th, 2008. That occurred during the PRP football practice. Uh, please describe the events of that day that practice from the beginning to the end as you remember ‘em?

Sweat

Well, it started out any other day, you know we went out, we did team stretch. First we lifted and watched film. And, uh, then we went in the locker room, we got dressed, and went to the field. We did our 10 stretch, our team take offs and everything. Everything was pretty normal, and uh, then right after the 7 on 7 period? We got ready to go to teams. Well, when it was our second water break, I had just turned the water off. I started to run over to the practice, and I heard him, I heard coach yell get on the line. We was gettin’ ready to run, so I got there and I looked at my friend I said, what are we running for? He said, I don’t know I guess they was walking. So, and we started running and we ran for a long time. Uh, we ran probably 10, then he let us take our helmets off. And, we ran probably, I don’t know, 9, 10 more. And, let us take our shoulder pads off, and uh. It was right before our last warning,

Page 3 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Max kept like. Whenever we would get back from a run, he would like fall down to his knees or something, we’d help him up. You know, well about, it was almost the last one. We had one more left, and he got back and dropped to his knees. And, I looked over at him, he had his hands up on his head like that. And, looked over to me, and he looked and suddenly he just fell. And, uh, me and another player picked him up off the ground. And, was holding him up, and uh, they told the big guys that we had to run again. So, I told one of the defensive backs, I said come here hold him while I run. Well, while we was running we came back, and then we was going to a team meeting. And, uh, coach told us to just lay him down in the field. And, they brought the gator over and we picked him up and put him in the gator. And, they drove him over to the water. But, right before that a few players went over to get a drink. And, uh, he yelled at em, told ‘em to get away from the water. And, he would tell ‘em when they could have water. And, uh, so they came over with the team, had Max in the gator and they unscrewed the water hose and started spraying him down. Trying to wake him up or whatever. And, uh, well team meeting was over, and I walked back to the locker room. I got dressed and I left, and the ambulance was just now gettin' there, when I left. And, that’s pretty much all I can say. Butler

Okay. I wanna ask you some specifics about it. How are water breaks giving usually, are they individually or by the team?

Sweat

Uh, it depends on what group you’re with. Like defense gets a different water break than everybody else.

Page 4 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Butler

So, it’s per position?

Sweat

Yes.

Butler

Okay. Excuse me, on uh, August 20th, how many water breaks do you think you took?

Sweat

Me, I took I think 2.

Butler

Okay. And, what position do you play?

Sweat

I play defensive end.

Butler

Defensive end, now do you practice with the like the defensive linemen?

Sweat

Yes.

Butler

And, the offensive linemen?

Sweat

The offensive linemen practice with the offense line. And, the defensive line with defensive line. The linebackers and defensive backs and the wide receivers. And, then the quarterbacks.

Butler

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

Sweat

Running.

Butler

Okay. And, you’re with the defensive line, offensive line?

Sweat

Just the defense line.

Butler

Just, oh just the defensive line.

Page 5 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Sweat

Yes, sir.

Butler

Now, were, were you all given a water break right before you started running?

Sweat

Yes.

Butler

Was the offensive line anywhere near you all?

Sweat

Yes, everybody got a water break, because it was right before we was going into team period?

Butler

Um-hum.

Sweat

And, team period everybody gets a water break, and then we have like kind of like a team scrimmage.

Butler

Right.

Sweat

Offense versus defense.

Butler

So, everybody gets a water break, and then you come back out on the field.

Sweat

Yeah.

Butler

And, then it’s kinda like a scrimmage?

Sweat

Yeah.

Butler

Folks are watching and?

Sweat

Yes.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

And, uh, we turn the water off and we was

Page 6 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

running back over. And, he told us to get on the line, I guess people was walking you know? And, uh, so we ran. Butler

Uh, what did you run?

Sweat

Gassers, full gassers.

Butler

Okay. And, full gasser is?

Sweat

Is up…

Butler

Across, back across back.

Sweat

Back, up back, yes.

Butler

Okay. And, your all are split into 2 groups, light and heavy?

Sweat

Yes.

Butler

What group are you running with?

Sweat

I’m with the big guys.

Butler

Okay. How many groups do you think you all ran?

Sweat

Awe, man we (inaudible)…

Butler

Or, how many, how many gassers?

Sweat

We ran a lot uh, a friend of mine say we ran?

Butler

No, how many you think?

Sweat

About 30, I think somewhere between 25 and 30.

Page 7 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Butler

Okay. How many gassers do you think you ran before took off gear?

Sweat

I think we ran probably 10 before we took off our helmets.

Butler

Okay. How about after w…, after you took off your gear?

Sweat

We probably ran about 9, 10 more.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

Then we took off the shoulder pads and ran the rest.

Butler

Okay. How many you think after the last period?

Sweat

After we took off our shoulder pads?

Butler

Um-hum.

Sweat

I don’t know, maybe 5, 10 something like that.

Butler

Okay. Uh, how long do you think you all are running gassers in time frame?

Sweat

Probably about an hour.

Butler

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

Sweat

I don’t know of anybody that was asking, but I didn’t. Because, I thought if we asked, we probably had to run more.

Butler

Okay. But, did I mean did anybody, did, did

Page 8 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

you hear anybody gettin’ denied water at that point while they’re, while you’re running? Sweat

I really, to be honest I wasn’t paying too much attention.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

I was trying to catch my breath.

Butler

Fair enough. Uh, did you or any of your teammates become ill during the running of the gassers?

Sweat

A lot of guys was throwing up.

Butler

Okay. Do, do, I mean who did you see throwing up that you know?

Sweat

Friend of mine Blake was throwing up?

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

Max threw up a few times, and I threw up once.

Butler

Okay. Now, when you say you threw up, where did uh, was that between the soccer field and your all’s practice field? When you all are waiting?

Sweat

Yes, yes.

Butler

Okay. Was there quite a few people throwing up?

Sweat

Uh, the only people I seen was me, Max and Blake. But, there was people all the way down the field, you know.

Page 9 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Butler

Right.

Sweat

So.

Butler

Now, were you where, were, you were running across the field with who?

Sweat

Uh.

Butler

Obviously you’re on the heavy.

Butler

But, I mean who’s, who’s right beside you when you all are running? Is Max hear you?

Sweat

Max was probably, if he wasn’t the next guy, he was right beside him.

Butler

Okay. So, one or two next to you?

Sweat

Yeah.

Butler

And, Blake was right beside you?

Sweat

And, Blake was right next to me.

Butler

Okay. And, at what point did you all become ill, what time did. What, at what point in the running did you become ill?

Sweat

I had my every, I was just no shoulder pads or anything.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

And, uh, I came back from one and was trying to catch my breath. And, just threw up, you know.

Page 10 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Butler

Okay. Uh, did any coaches say anything?

Sweat

Not that I know of.

Butler

Were there any coaches around?

Sweat

Yeah. One coach was trying to help me breathe.

Butler

And.

Sweat

Coach Donnelly told me, he said breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

Hold your hands up try and catch your breath.

Butler

Okay. And, then who gets sick next, did you get sick first between the 3 or do you know?

Sweat

No, Blake got sick before I did.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

And, uh, Blake got sick about 2 times before I did.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

Max got sick.

Butler

Was any coaches attending to Blake that you could see?

Sweat

Um-um.

Butler

Okay. Uh.

Page 11 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Sweat

And, then uh, Max got sick once or twice before I did. And, uh, then I got sick. But, Blake threw up about 2 or 3 times, and I know Max threw up at least twice. I only threw up once though.

Butler

When did Max throw up?

Sweat

Uh, he wasn’t wearing any shoulder pads, no gear.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

Uh, and uh, he was down on his knees and we helped him up. And, he turned around and he got sick. And, then he turned back around and we had to run again .

Butler

And, did all 3 of you run again?

Sweat

Yes.

Butler

Okay. Uh, and then you all come back from that one, and that’s when Max collapses?

Sweat

Uh, no he collapsed maybe 15, 20 minutes after that.

Butler

Okay. After he collapsed did you all continue to run?

Sweat

We ran one more.

Butler

Okay. Were, were the coaches at that point, attending to him?

Sweat

Uh, a few of ‘em was, like after we pick him up, and was carrying him? Uh, coach told us

Page 12 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

just lay him down and uh? Butler

Now, you say coach…

Sweat

And, we lay him down.

Butler

Which, which coach?

Sweat

Stinson.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

Told us lay him down, so we laid him down on the grass. Like probably from me to the tree, by the bleachers?

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

And, uh, we laid him down and they brought the gator over. And, then me and like 2 other players picked him up. And, sit him in the gator, and they drove him over to the water.

Butler

Okay.

Sweat

And, tried to wake him up.

Butler

Now, now when, when you were trying to help Max move around. Was he saying anything or?

Sweat

Um-um.

Butler

Was he helping you hold his weight at all?

Sweat

No, we, when we was walking, his feet was just dragging behind him.

Butler

Okay.

Page 13 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Sweat

His head was hanging, his eyes was closed.

Butler

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

Sweat

A few kids quit that night, and uh, a few freshmen quit through the year. Between summer and now and the other players that joined, quit.

Butler

Okay. Uh, has anyone influenced you in anyway to withhold information. Or, change any of the facts that actually occurred during the practice?

Sweat

No.

Butler

Okay. Uh, what we’ve talked about, is it true to the best of your knowledge?

Sweat

Yes.

Butler

Okay. And, this is a question for you too mom. Is there anything I didn’t ask that you want me to ask? Or, is there anything you wanna say, and, and ch…, I’ll start with you. Is there anything you want to say?

Sweat

No, just.

Butler

I mean is there anything we didn’t cover?

Sweat

Um-um, that’s pretty much it.

Butler

Okay. Mom do you have any questions at all?

Sandlin

No.

Page 14 of 14 Statement: Charles Sweat / Case #08197(d) September 10, 2008

Butler END OF STATEMENT File #08197dbutler-dl

Okay. Uh, this concludes the taped statement. And, the time is 7:52 p.m.