Junie Allen Browning Arrested; Trainer Discusses Incident
Loretta Hunt Oct 7, 2009
Junie
Allen Browning, a UFC veteran known for his outrageous behavior
on season eight of “The Ultimate Fighter,” was arrested Tuesday in
Henderson, Nev., according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Citing police, the newspaper reported that Browning was taken to St. Rose Dominican Hospital’s Siena campus after ingesting “16 pills of Klonopin, an anti-anxiety drug, in an attempt to harm himself.” The Review-Journal’s report then states that Browning tried to leave, pushed a female nurse, punched a male nurse and also kicked a male nurse.
“Do you know who I am?” police said Browning yelled. “I will kill
you and rape your family.”
Shawn Tompkins, Browning’s coach for more than a year at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, told Sherdog.com that he’d found the fighter in his apartment conscious but incoherent Tuesday night after Browning’s ex-girlfriend had called the coach and asked him to check on the fighter.
Tompkins drove Browning to the hospital and observed the fighter’s behavior alter from “sleepy” to “frantic and agitated” as they sat in the waiting and triage areas. Tompkins escorted Browning into the examination room and said Browning became upset when he was told that he’d have to ingest a charcoal pill and stay overnight in the facility.
Tompkins said he exited and saw four or five security guards rush into the room a few seconds later. Tompkins did not see Browning’s alleged verbal and physical assaults against the medical staff.
“All I can say is that it wasn’t Junie Browning who made that statement,” said Tompkins. “It was the drugs.”
Tompkins said Browning was due to be released from the Henderson Detention Center Wednesday evening on bail and would be staying with the trainer and his wife for the next few days. Tompkins said he would continue to work with the fighter, but he was unsure how Browning’s arrest might affect his standing with the Xtreme Couture team.
“He truly is a great kid and a great person,” said Tompkins. “I have no regrets in taking him under my wing. Rather than attack him, I hope people will show some compassion.”
Browning is 1-1 in the UFC since making it to the semifinals of “The Ultimate Fighter 8” lightweight tournament. Following the show, he left his home in Kentucky to train in Las Vegas. Tompkins said that the UFC released Browning from the promotion on Wednesday.
According to the Review-Journal, Browning is facing three counts of battery on a healthcare provider.
Citing police, the newspaper reported that Browning was taken to St. Rose Dominican Hospital’s Siena campus after ingesting “16 pills of Klonopin, an anti-anxiety drug, in an attempt to harm himself.” The Review-Journal’s report then states that Browning tried to leave, pushed a female nurse, punched a male nurse and also kicked a male nurse.
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Shawn Tompkins, Browning’s coach for more than a year at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, told Sherdog.com that he’d found the fighter in his apartment conscious but incoherent Tuesday night after Browning’s ex-girlfriend had called the coach and asked him to check on the fighter.
Tompkins said Browning told him he’d taken 16-20 pills of the drug
prescribed by his psychiatrist and was attempting to overdose.
Tompkins added that Browning suffers from bipolar disorder and
regular bouts of depression stemming from a dysfunctional
upbringing. Though actively training at the gym, Tompkins said
Browning had exhibited recent bouts of duress.
Tompkins drove Browning to the hospital and observed the fighter’s behavior alter from “sleepy” to “frantic and agitated” as they sat in the waiting and triage areas. Tompkins escorted Browning into the examination room and said Browning became upset when he was told that he’d have to ingest a charcoal pill and stay overnight in the facility.
Tompkins said he exited and saw four or five security guards rush into the room a few seconds later. Tompkins did not see Browning’s alleged verbal and physical assaults against the medical staff.
“All I can say is that it wasn’t Junie Browning who made that statement,” said Tompkins. “It was the drugs.”
Tompkins said Browning was due to be released from the Henderson Detention Center Wednesday evening on bail and would be staying with the trainer and his wife for the next few days. Tompkins said he would continue to work with the fighter, but he was unsure how Browning’s arrest might affect his standing with the Xtreme Couture team.
“He truly is a great kid and a great person,” said Tompkins. “I have no regrets in taking him under my wing. Rather than attack him, I hope people will show some compassion.”
Browning is 1-1 in the UFC since making it to the semifinals of “The Ultimate Fighter 8” lightweight tournament. Following the show, he left his home in Kentucky to train in Las Vegas. Tompkins said that the UFC released Browning from the promotion on Wednesday.
According to the Review-Journal, Browning is facing three counts of battery on a healthcare provider.
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