RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina State running back Shadrach Thornton was arrested Tuesday after striking a pedestrian while riding a scooter on a sidewalk near campus.
Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said Thornton allegedly left the scene of the accident. In an email, Sughrue said the pedestrian suffered "non-life-threatening" injuries, with an accident report stating the pedestrian suffered a facial injury that required stitches.
Sughrue said Thornton was later located at the parking deck of his nearby apartment and taken into custody without incident. According to court records, he paid a $500 bond and was released.
Lee Turner, Thornton's Raleigh-based attorney, said Thornton cooperated with police.
"I understand that he was polite, cooperative and gave the officers a full statement about what happened," Turner said. "I understand that after the accident he did have a conversation with the victim before leaving the scene."
According to a magistrate's report, Thornton was charged Tuesday night with a misdemeanor of failing to provide his name, address and other personal information or "reasonable assistance" to the injured pedestrian. A traffic citation states Thornton is also charged with driving on the sidewalk and operating an unregistered vehicle.
Thornton, who led the team in rushing last year, recently returned from a two-game suspension for a violation of athletic department policy. It was the senior's third suspension, with the first two coming after brushes with the law in 2013.
NC State athletic spokesman Fred Demarest said Wednesday the school is gathering information on the incident and that Thornton was attending the team's morning practice but wouldn't be available for interviews.
"I haven't had a chance to deal with it yet," coach Dave Doeren said Wednesday. "As soon as I have all the information, I'll make a statement on what I'm going to do."
Thornton sat out the 2013 opener during Doeren's first season after he was charged with misdemeanor assault on a woman. His attorney, Lee Turner, said previously that Thornton received counseling through a deferred-prosecution agreement that ultimately led to the dismissal of that charge.
In December 2013, Doeren indefinitely suspended Thornton after authorities cited him for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Turner said charges were later dismissed, leading to his reinstatement during last year's training camp to avoid sitting any games.
As Thornton prepared to return from his suspension entering Week 3, Doeren was asked about the number of chances he's given Thornton, a native of Hinesville, Georgia. Doeren said then that Thornton had been "the best him that he's been since I've been here" and that he had learned from his mistakes.
"But if I felt like I couldn't help him anymore, he wouldn't be here," Doeren said then.
Thornton ran for 907 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He ran for 92 yards and a touchdown in his return against Old Dominion, then 111 yards and two scores in last weekend's win at South Alabama.
NC State (4-0) hosts Louisville in its ACC opener Saturday.