The University of Arkansas baseball pitcher dismissed from the team after his kidnapping arrest in April has been sentenced to a 10-day jail sentence, along with one year of probation and fines, according to court documents.
Thomas Altimont, a UA junior at the time, was arrested by Fayetteville police in April on suspicion of kidnapping. He was later released from the Washington County Detention Center on $10,000 bond, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Altimont pleaded guilty in July to the lesser charge of third-degree domestic battery, and he appeared in the Washington County jail Thursday to start serving his sentence, according to court documents from the Washington County Circuit Clerk’s office.
A preliminary police report states Fayetteville police responded to a disturbance call at approximately 1:25 a.m. on April 12 at an apartment on South Conway Place where they were told someone was being held against her will. The officers arrived and entered the apartment after finding the door ajar, the report said.
The officers heard crying coming a bedroom and forced their way through the door, which was locked, and found a man, identified as Altimont, leaning over a woman, who was crying on the bed, the report said. Altimont, 21, refused to obey officers’ command to leave the bedroom so he was escorted out of the room, the report said.
Morgan McCombs, 18, told officers a friend had picked her up at her dorm and then drove to pick up Altimont from a bar on Dickson Street, the report said. McCombs said she got in an argument with Altimont for going through her phone and, when they arrived at Altimont’s apartment, she did not want to get out of the car, the report said.
The woman told police Altimont pulled her from the vehicle, threw her over his shoulder and carried her to his second-floor apartment, the report said. When he unlocked the door, McCombs was able to get away but Altimont caught her at the railing and forced her into his apartment, the report said.
The woman escaped to the back balcony door but Altimont caught her again and forced her into his bedroom, the report said. The woman told officers Altimont’s friend confronted him, and Altimont began to punch a closet door and choking himself, the report said.
Altimont then locked himself and the woman in the bedroom, threw the woman on the bed and held her down, the report said. McCombs said she fought back and Altimont bit her hair and ripped it from her scalp, the report said.
The officers wrote in the report that the woman had red marks on her arms and neck and was complaining of pain.
Maintenance crews were at Altimont’s apartment April 12, replacing a broken bedroom window.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said at the time that Altimont was suspended indefinitely from the baseball team. He was later dismissed from the team.
“We will take the time to review the matter thoroughly and make any further determinations next week,” Van Horn said in a released statement. “We have high standard for our student-athletes, and they will conduct themselves appropriately. We stress accountability in the University of Arkansas baseball program and endangering the safety of others and other inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.”
Altimont, of Southlake, Texas, transferred to Arkansas this year from McLennan Community College. He is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in five appearances for the Razorbacks.
