Report: Incident at fast food restaurant leads to arrest of Purdue Pete performer
Purdue student Joseph Desmond, who is the Purdue Pete mascot, was arrested at McDonald’s for alleged battery and disorderly conduct, according to The Exponent.
Desmond was allegedly operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and hit someone with his car at McDonald’s on Oct. 11 around 2 a.m.
Desmond reportedly began fighting with the person he hit with his car and that person has sustained multiple injuries, per the Purdue University Police Department.
The officer on the scene said he was “immediately met by the overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage” on Desmond’s breath, as well as having watery eyes and slurred speech.
Desmond claims the victim began the altercation by pushing him but reportedly couldn’t go into further details.
Purdue has released a statement on the incident.
“Purdue Athletics is aware of the situation regarding Joseph Desmond and will address the situation accordingly as the process unfolds,” Purdue Athletics spokesperson Kassidie Blackstock said in an email on Tuesday.