SHANEFROMGA
03-07-2010, 09:58 AM
MILLEDGEVILLE — Investigators from the Milledgeville Police Department and the GBI are investigating allegations that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sexually assaulted a woman in a Milledgeville nightclub early Friday morning.
At an early evening news conference, Deputy Police Chief Richard Malone said Roethlisberger, 28, is “alleged to be the perpetrator” in a sexual assault of a 20-year-old Georgia College & State University student at the Capital City nightclub, 119 S. Wayne St., sometime after 2 a.m.
MCT - Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the subject of a sexual assault investigation by Milledgeville police. The alleged assault occurred early Friday morning. According to a police report, the victim found a Milledgeville police officer on patrol on East Hancock Street and reported that she had been assaulted.
Investigators questioned several people at the nightclub, including Roethlisberger and three members of his party, Malone said.
Roethlisberger has a house in Eatonton on Lake Oconee, about 30 minutes north of Milledgeville, according to property records.
The victim was taken to Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville, where evidence was obtained. She was later released from the hospital.
Malone said investigators hoped to re-interview Roethlisberger after he has an opportunity to consult with his attorney. Officials declined to give the name of the attorney, but they said they didn’t think he was based in Middle Georgia.
When asked if alcohol was a factor in the alleged assault, Malone said, “I’m not going to answer that at this point.”
GBI agent Tom Davis said his office regularly consults with law enforcement officials in Baldwin County, and that state investigators weren’t brought in because of the high-profile nature of the case.
“We’re here to provide crime-scene and investigative support,” Davis said.
Roethlisberger isn’t named in the official police report, which describes the suspect as a “white male, with brown hair and brown eyes, 6-foot-5 inches tall and 241 pounds.”
This isn’t the first allegation of this kind made against Roethlisberger, who has two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.
In an unrelated incident, Roethlisberger was sued by a woman who claimed that he raped her at a Lake Tahoe hotel in 2008. Roethlisberger denied the allegations and has asked for counter damages, according to an Associated Press report.
Roethlisberger’s agent, Ryan Tollner, released a statement Friday to the AP.
“Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening,” the statement said. “We have spoken to law enforcement. Based on information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night. Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved.”
A spokesman for the Steelers organization told news services that the team is gathering information and not commenting on the situation at this time.
Telegraph staff writers Joe Kovac Jr. and Linda S. Morris contributed to this report, which includes information from the Associated Press.
At an early evening news conference, Deputy Police Chief Richard Malone said Roethlisberger, 28, is “alleged to be the perpetrator” in a sexual assault of a 20-year-old Georgia College & State University student at the Capital City nightclub, 119 S. Wayne St., sometime after 2 a.m.
MCT - Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the subject of a sexual assault investigation by Milledgeville police. The alleged assault occurred early Friday morning. According to a police report, the victim found a Milledgeville police officer on patrol on East Hancock Street and reported that she had been assaulted.
Investigators questioned several people at the nightclub, including Roethlisberger and three members of his party, Malone said.
Roethlisberger has a house in Eatonton on Lake Oconee, about 30 minutes north of Milledgeville, according to property records.
The victim was taken to Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville, where evidence was obtained. She was later released from the hospital.
Malone said investigators hoped to re-interview Roethlisberger after he has an opportunity to consult with his attorney. Officials declined to give the name of the attorney, but they said they didn’t think he was based in Middle Georgia.
When asked if alcohol was a factor in the alleged assault, Malone said, “I’m not going to answer that at this point.”
GBI agent Tom Davis said his office regularly consults with law enforcement officials in Baldwin County, and that state investigators weren’t brought in because of the high-profile nature of the case.
“We’re here to provide crime-scene and investigative support,” Davis said.
Roethlisberger isn’t named in the official police report, which describes the suspect as a “white male, with brown hair and brown eyes, 6-foot-5 inches tall and 241 pounds.”
This isn’t the first allegation of this kind made against Roethlisberger, who has two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.
In an unrelated incident, Roethlisberger was sued by a woman who claimed that he raped her at a Lake Tahoe hotel in 2008. Roethlisberger denied the allegations and has asked for counter damages, according to an Associated Press report.
Roethlisberger’s agent, Ryan Tollner, released a statement Friday to the AP.
“Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening,” the statement said. “We have spoken to law enforcement. Based on information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night. Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved.”
A spokesman for the Steelers organization told news services that the team is gathering information and not commenting on the situation at this time.
Telegraph staff writers Joe Kovac Jr. and Linda S. Morris contributed to this report, which includes information from the Associated Press.