A Wisconsin-Stout incoming freshman player faces a felony murder charge, while a teammate is charged with being a party to the crime.
Jedidiah R. McGlasson, 21, and Jared C. Britton, 23, were in Dunn County (Wis.) Jail in advance of a Friday afternoon bond hearing.
The charges they face stem from the death of UW-Stout student Bradley L. Simon as the result of a run-in with McGlasson and Britton in the early-morning hours of Sept. 18, according to the Menomonie (Wis.) Police Department.
McGlasson is described by the school as as freshman from Kenai, Alaska, majoring in engineering technology and a hockey recruit.
Britton is a senior from Regina, Saskatchewan, who is majoring in manufacturing engineering and has played three years for the hockey team.
According to police:
• McGlasson, Britton and Simon were involved in a verbal altercation along with other customers inside the Log Jam tavern in Menomonie before the sides were separated.
• A short time later, Simon left the bar and was riding a bicycle when he was confronted by McGlasson and Britton, who allegedly assaulted Simon. That caused the bicycle Simon was riding to crash into a concrete wall, sending Simon over the handlebars. Simon struck his head on the wall.
• McGlasson and Britton left the scene before emergency medical and police officials arrived. Simon was transported by helicopter to Luther Hospital in Eau Claire, Wis., where he died on Thursday.
UW-Stout Chancellor Charles W. Sorenson said the school is doing “everything possible” to help Simon’s family.
“I was severely disappointed today to hear about the alleged behavior that led to the charges brought against two UW-Stout students, one who has played for our hockey team for three years and one who was recruited to play for the team,” Sorenson said in a statement.
“I cannot comment on the specifics of the case. The Menomonie Police Department, assisted by our campus police department, has done a remarkable job in investigating the incident. We have been kept informed of the major developments as they affected UW-Stout, and I have directed everyone on campus to give the investigators their full cooperation.”
Britton played in 34 games over his first three seasons with the Blue Devils, including 23 in 2008-09.
McGlasson split last season between Kenai River and Alaska in the NAHL.
UPDATE (July 10, 2011): Former Wisconsin-Stout player Britton found not guilty of murder
