Four student-athletes arrested in CSU robberies

Charleston Southern University has confirmed that four student-athletes, one an active football player, were arrested Monday night in connection with last week's armed robbery and abduction from the school's campus.

North Charleston police said a bail hearing for the students on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping was expected at 2:30 p.m. today. Police identified the suspects as:

— Zachery Hillery, 20, of Sanford, Fla.
— Samuel Baptiste, 20, of Naples, Fla.
— T.J. Latimore, 19, of Cleveland
— Ronald Jay Baldner, 19, of Crystal River, Fla.

The four are accused of a robbery that began in the parking lot outside the men's dorms on Nov. 11. A female student and a male acquaintance were in a car about 7:45 p.m., waiting for the car's owner to get out of class, when two men approached.

One wore a mask and the other brandished a gun. The robbers got in the back seat, pointed a gun to the back of the male student's head and told him to drive.

The men made him drive to the nearby Atlantic Palms apartments, where the robbers took the $30 or so in cash they had, then ran away. No one was injured.

Spencer Pryor, North Charleston police public information officer, said that all four suspects are charged as part of an alleged scheme, though witnesses reported seeing only two robbers. They all listed the school's campus as their local address.

Charleston Southern said that all four were involved in the school's football program, though only one was an active member of the team at the time of the incident. They have been suspended pending the outcome of the case, said Doug Dickerson, director of public relations, in a release.

Latimore, a running back, has played in recent games. An online roster lists Hillery as a defensive lineman and Baldner as a wide receiver. Baptiste is not mentioned.

The press release also includes statements from the school's head football coach and president.

Said Coach Jay Mills: "We are disappointed to hear of the charges brought against these young men. Our athletics program at CSU continues its commitment to the academic, athletic, spiritual and character development of our student athletes."

CSU President Jairy C. Hunter expressed "regret that these individuals chose a path not representative of the Christian values at the university."

After last week's incident, the university was placed on lockdown as a precaution. An alert system sent out nearly 6,000 automated phone calls, e-mails and text messages to students, parents and faculty. Later that week, the school announced additional security measures, including extra armed officers and evening foot patrols. The school has promised checkpoints at the entrance to the campus at night and more surveillance cameras.

About 3,330 students are enrolled and nearly 1,100 of them live on the 300-acre campus on U.S. Highway 78.

A student was robbed at gunpoint in his West Russell dormitory room on Oct. 6. One student and a former student were arrested and charged in that case.