Three Arizona football players were arrested for fighting early Sunday morning near the corner of East Adams Street and North Vine Avenue.

Defensive tackle Justin Washington, receiver Dewayne Peace and running back Kylan Butler were arrested. Washington told police the men were trying to protect a female friend from being “”taken advantage of.””

Washington and Butler were cited on charges of misdemeanor assault and released, while Peace was charged with aggravated assault and misdemeanor assault. Peace was taken into police custody and booked at the Pima County Jail.

UAPD Sergeant Juan Alvarez said an officer saw Washington, Peace and Butler get out of a vehicle and confront two other men. A fight broke out and officers intervened, he said.

The other two men in the fight were not arrested.

Washington told an officer he, Peace and Butler saw a woman who was their friend inside a silver van with men they did not know, according to police documents obtained by the Daily Wildcat.

Officers saw the three men get out of a vehicle and begin to “”jump about”” aggressively. The officers followed them around the corner of a building, heard yelling and observed the three men in a fight with two other men.

Running to the location, the officers ordered the involved men to sit on the ground.

The officer noticed blood dripping from the head of one man and the other man said he had been punched.

Butler told police that earlier the men were making advances toward the woman and her friends.

Washington said Peace was trying to prevent the woman from leaving with the men and punched one of the men to stop her from doing so.

Peace was arrested on charges of aggravated assault due to the victims’ statements. One of the men had several fractured teeth and the other had a cut on his head.

All three football players were referred to the Dean of Students Office.