No weapon was involved in a Jan. 14 assault near a Campustown bar that may have involved an ISU football starter, police said.

Cephus Johnson, a defensive end who will be a senior this fall, is accused of assaulting Nicholas Zeitler, junior in computer engineering, outside Mickey’s Irish Pub, 109 Welch Ave.

Ames Police Chief Loras Jaeger said Tuesday that there was not a knife involved in the incident.

The Daily reported Monday that the incident happened inside the bar. But Jay Ratzlaff, manager and co-owner of Mickey’s Irish Pub, said Tuesday that no one from his establishment knew anything about it.

“They were never in Mickey’s, and no one who works here knows anything about it,” Ratzlaff said.

Johnson and Zeitler got into an argument, apparently over a woman, Jaeger said. According to the incident report, Johnson then struck Zeitler several times, giving him a bruised left eye.

Police said after the altercation, Zeitler returned to his apartment, where he called the police.

Statements were given to the police, who submitted them to the county attorney for review before arresting Johnson on Saturday and charging him with serious assault.

The charge, a serious misdemeanor, can carry a fine of $250 to $1,500 and up to one year in jail.

Johnson recorded 23 tackles for the Cyclones last season.

Johnson is one of five ISU football players who have been arrested during this academic year. Jason Berryman was arrested in August and convicted of serious misdemeanor assault and felony first-degree theft. Joshua Hargis was arrested in October after being accused of striking another student. On Monday, Tyease Thompson and Jerry Gair were arrested and charged with second-degree burglary.