Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Pitt's Keith Benjamin was arrested after an altercation with a former girlfriend late last week.

By Ray Fittipaldo
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pitt basketball player Keith Benjamin was arrested and charged with simple assault after an altercation with a former girlfriend late last week. Benjamin and Ashley Olczak were involved in a domestic dispute in the early morning hours Friday over a set of car keys.

According to a criminal complaint, officers were called to 111 Hyman Place and witnessed Benjamin and Olczak arguing. The officers observed Olczak was bleeding from the knee and had several scratches on her face and neck. Olczak said the situation became violent after she hit him in the chest.

After she hit him, Olczak said Benjamin punched her on the left side of her face. Olczak said she hit Benjamin in the chest again and that Benjamin punched her again, this time knocking her to the ground. Officers observed swelling and a bruise on Olczak's right cheek. She said she did not know how the other injuries occurred, but said they were a result of the fight.

Benjamin contended in the criminal complaint that Olczak threw several punches at him that he was able to block with his hands. Benjamin, who was uninjured, said he never hit Olczak and did not know how she received her injuries. Both refused medical treatment. Olczak was arrested as well.

Benjamin, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., was arraigned in night court and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing tomorrow in Pittsburgh Municipal Court. Reached by phone yesterday, Benjamin declined comment. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon declined an interview request through the Pitt sports information department.

Benajmin, a 6-foot-2 junior, averaged 3.3 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last season. He was expected to challenge for a starting position next season.