Terps’ Costa arrested

Maryland linebacker Rick Costa was arrested early Saturday in College Park and was charged with one count of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault.

A team spokesman declined Tuesday morning to describe Costa’s status with the team or his availability for Saturday’s game against North Carolina, though he said the matter would be addressed at coach Ralph Friedgen’s early-afternoon press conference. (UPDATE: The team announced that Costa has been suspended indefinitely.)

According to charging documents obtained Tuesday, an officer noticed a fight at the Cornerstone Grill and Loft at about 2:25 a.m. Saturday. Two bouncers informed the officer Costa and two other men were attempting to enter the bar after being told it was closed.

After being asked to leave, Costa “became combative, striking [the bouncers] in the face,” prompting another to intervene only to be shoved away.

The officer proceeded to identify himself and observed Costas was intoxicated and disorderly. Costa then “became belligerent and punched the [officer] in the right side of his eye, causing a severe face injury.” The policeman defended himself with pepper spray, and other officers soon arrived to arrest Costa.

Costas arrest is the first major fracas involving Maryland’s football program in more than three years. The Terps suspended three players for one game in 2005 for their roles in a Halloween brawl at Cornerstone.

“Thank God, knock on wood, if you look at our record compared to other schools, it’s pretty good,” Friedgen said last month.

Costa, who started two of Maryland’s nine games, ranks second on the Terps (6-3, 3-2 ACC) in both sacks (three) and tackles for loss (seven) and has 22 total tackles. He and senior Trey Covington split time at LEO, Maryland’s end-linebacker hybrid position.