College basketball: Washington Coach Lorenzo Romar confirms that a Huskies athlete is under police investigation
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Washington men’s basketball Coach Lorenzo Romar addressed for the first time Tuesday the report that one of his players was being investigated by police in connection with the allegation by a 16-year-old girl that she was sexually assaulted Saturday night.
He said during his weekly news conference that the allegation was considered ‘very serious’ but that there was not enough information known ‘to determine what’s going to be done here.’
Romar did not identify the Washington athlete under police investigation but alluded to the fact that it is one of his players. He did not comment further on the situation.
No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed. University officials initially acknowledged being aware of the police investigation but declined to comment further Monday night.
Romar said Tuesday that he expected all of his players to be available to travel with the Huskies to the Bay Area to play Stanford on Thursday night. Romar declined to answer whether the school was conducting an internal investigation, saying it would be a distraction for his team.
Players typically speak to the media on Tuesdays, but they were not made available this Tuesday.
According to a redacted police report, posted by KIRO-TV in Seattle, the alleged incident took place Saturday night. (The report contains some graphic material.)
The girl met the athlete at an apartment near Garfield High School in Seattle’s Central District, the report states.
She reportedly told the athlete to stop after his alleged sexual advances and she was later taken to a medical center where she was interviewed by detectives from the Seattle police sexual assault unit, the report states.
Washington (12-3, 4-0 in Pacific 10 Conference play) is ranked No. 17 in this week’s Associated Press poll and the Huskies were the overwhelming favorite to win the league this season.
-- Baxter Holmes