Ex-MSU football player accused in tunnel incident faces East Lansing weapons charges

Mike Ellis
Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING — Itayvion Brown, a 21-year-old Michigan State University linebacker accused in the 2022 University of Michigan football tunnel incident, now faces unrelated weapons charges a month after being dismissed from the MSU football team.

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) is pressured by Michigan State defensive end Jacub Panasiuk (96) and linebacker Itayvion Brown (19) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Brown was arraigned Friday morning in East Lansing's 54-B District Court before Judge Molly Greenwalt on a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon and a misdemeanor charge of firearm possession under the influence for alleged March 17 offenses, according to court records.

Defense attorney Wade Fink, of Birmingham, said after the arraignment that he is still processing discovery evidence but "it appears there is no allegation of assaultive conduct," such as pointing a gun or threatening someone, and the case will revolve around when, where and whether Brown had a weapon.

During Friday's hearing, Greenwalt set a $5,000 general bond for Brown, meaning he would have to post 10% of that amount.

Court records do not detail reasons for the charges Brown is facing, and Fink declined to go into further detail. The State Journal has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request with the East Lansing Police Department for a copy of the incident report.

Brown's preliminary examination on the weapons charges is scheduled for May 4. He's also scheduled for a Monday pretrial conference in Ann Arbor's 15th District Court, where he faces a misdemeanor aggravated assault charge for his alleged role in an Oct. 29 fight after a football game between MSU's Spartans and University of Michigan's Wolverines. Seven football players, including Brown, were charged.

“Itayvion Brown was dismissed from the Michigan State football team last month and did not participate in spring practice. Previously, he had been indefinitely suspended from team activities beginning in late February,” said Ben Phlegar, an assistant athletic director for Michigan State Athletics, in a statement.

Brown, a 6-foot-4, 247-pound sophomore who transferred to MSU from Minnesota before the 2021 season, had one tackle in six games last season while playing primarily on special teams. 

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Detroit Free Press reporter Chris Solari contributed to this story.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com