Temple Tells Accused Kidnapper to Stay Away From Football Team

Temple says junior football player won't practice or play with team during assault, kidnapping investigation

The Temple University football player charged with kidnapping and assaulting a 21-year-old woman has been told to stay away from the Owls' football team.

Kamal Johnson, a Willingboro, N.J. native, is a junior defensive end with the Owls, according to the Temple Owls' website.

Johnson, 20, isn't suspended but likely won't be playing for the Owls anytime soon. He can, however, continue to attend Temple, according to a university statement:

Considering all of the circumstances, we deem it in the best interests of everyone involved that Mr. Johnson should not practice or compete with the football team until this situation is resolved. In doing so, we emphasize that we are not making a determination about his guilt or innocence -- that is for the justice system. His status as a student and his scholarship status have not changed.

The University will continue to monitor the situation. When the charges are resolved or if circumstances otherwise change, the University will consider the matter further.

Johnson posted 10 percent of $25,000 bail over the weekend. He is set to be arraigned on kidnapping, assault, reckless endangerment, false imprisonment and related charges on Oct. 23, according to court documents.

According to police, Johnson pushed his way into the woman's off-campus apartment at Edge Student Village on the 1600 block of N 15th Street in North Philadelphia. Police say Johnson knocked on her door and when the woman answered, he forced his way inside.

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Johnson allegedly pulled the woman out of her apartment, demanded to see her phone, and pushed her down two flights of stairs to his apartment.

In an exclusive interview with NBC10’s Cydney Long, the 21-year-old woman, who says she was in a three-year relationship with Johnson, detailed moments from the alleged attack.

“He got me to his room, threw me onto the chair, he choked me, punched my head, punched me on my thigh leaving a mark on back of my neck and marks on my arm from him dragging me.”

The political science major says she was too afraid to go to the hospital but thinks she suffered a mild concussion during the attack.

“My head was hurting so bad. I wiped my neck, I was bleeding.”

The woman says she asked to leave and Johnson refused. Police say Johnson then held the woman against her will for more than three hours. Johnson accused the woman of cheating on him, according to investigators.

The woman plans to hire an attorney but says she fears for her life.

“I have not slept since Thursday, since I reported it. I’m so scared,” she said. “Temple police is telling me not to say anything. My voice needs to be heard, I can't hide anymore.”

The woman told police that Johnson abused her in the past.

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