January 31, 2011 9:05 AM
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Steelers QB Investigated in Sexual Assault
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, right, makes a statement at the Steelers offices in Pittsburgh, as coach Mike Timlin looks on, Thursday, July 23, 2009. Roethlisberger says allegations by a Lake Tahoe casino hostess that he raped her a (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
(CBS/ AP)
Updated at 9:58 p.m. ET
Two years after being accused of raping a Nevada woman, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being investigated in an allegation of sexual assault at a Georgia nightclub, police said Friday.
Officers said the alleged assault occurred early Friday morning at a nightclub in Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta. The player owns a home about 30 miles to the north on Oconee Lake.
The two-time Super Bowl champion and some of his friends were seen visiting local restaurants and bars Thursday night. Roethlisberger turned 28 on Tuesday.
"He's been identified as being at the scene and there are allegations naming him as the perpetrator," Deputy Chief Richard Malone said.
Malone said Roethlisberger had been with three other people who were mingling with another group that included the alleged victim. Malone said the woman and her party contacted a nearby police officer following the alleged assault.
Several areas of the bar were considered a crime scene, Malone said, but he would not elaborate.
Roethlisberger and the alleged victim have been interviewed and the woman was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released, Malone said.
Police said Roethlisberger and his attorney were cooperating with investigators. He was not in custody and has not been charged with a crime.
In 2008, a 31-year-old Nevada woman filed a civil lawsuit alleging Roethlisberger raped her in a hotel penthouse. The woman was working as a VIP casino host at Harrah's Lake Tahoe at the time, and claims in the lawsuit the rape took place in Roethlisberger's room after he called her on a bogus complaint.
The Steelers star denies those allegations and has asked for counter-damages.
"Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening," the player's agent, Ryan Tollner, said in a statement.
"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."
Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett released a statement from the team. "We are gathering information and that is the only comment we have at this time," it said.
The owner of a restaurant near the nightclub said Roethlisberger and some of his friends came in earlier Thursday night.
"He was very polite with everybody," said Frank Pendergrast, owner of The Brick. "He was down here from about 11:30 until about 1:30 having a good time, talking to a lot of people. Looked like he was signing autographs and letting people take pictures. Other than that, it was really uneventful."
Pittsburgh's first-round draft pick out of Miami of Ohio in 2004, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to Super Bowl victories at the end of the 2006 and 2008 seasons. But while he has been a huge success on the field, Roethlisberger has had his share of problems off it.
Besides the Lake Tahoe allegations, Roethlisberger broke his jaw and several other facial bones in 2006 when he got into a motorcycle crash while driving without a valid license.
Two years after being accused of raping a Nevada woman, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being investigated in an allegation of sexual assault at a Georgia nightclub, police said Friday.
Officers said the alleged assault occurred early Friday morning at a nightclub in Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta. The player owns a home about 30 miles to the north on Oconee Lake.
The two-time Super Bowl champion and some of his friends were seen visiting local restaurants and bars Thursday night. Roethlisberger turned 28 on Tuesday.
"He's been identified as being at the scene and there are allegations naming him as the perpetrator," Deputy Chief Richard Malone said.
Malone said Roethlisberger had been with three other people who were mingling with another group that included the alleged victim. Malone said the woman and her party contacted a nearby police officer following the alleged assault.
Several areas of the bar were considered a crime scene, Malone said, but he would not elaborate.
Roethlisberger and the alleged victim have been interviewed and the woman was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released, Malone said.
Police said Roethlisberger and his attorney were cooperating with investigators. He was not in custody and has not been charged with a crime.
In 2008, a 31-year-old Nevada woman filed a civil lawsuit alleging Roethlisberger raped her in a hotel penthouse. The woman was working as a VIP casino host at Harrah's Lake Tahoe at the time, and claims in the lawsuit the rape took place in Roethlisberger's room after he called her on a bogus complaint.
The Steelers star denies those allegations and has asked for counter-damages.
"Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening," the player's agent, Ryan Tollner, said in a statement.
"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."
Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett released a statement from the team. "We are gathering information and that is the only comment we have at this time," it said.
The owner of a restaurant near the nightclub said Roethlisberger and some of his friends came in earlier Thursday night.
"He was very polite with everybody," said Frank Pendergrast, owner of The Brick. "He was down here from about 11:30 until about 1:30 having a good time, talking to a lot of people. Looked like he was signing autographs and letting people take pictures. Other than that, it was really uneventful."
Pittsburgh's first-round draft pick out of Miami of Ohio in 2004, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to Super Bowl victories at the end of the 2006 and 2008 seasons. But while he has been a huge success on the field, Roethlisberger has had his share of problems off it.
Besides the Lake Tahoe allegations, Roethlisberger broke his jaw and several other facial bones in 2006 when he got into a motorcycle crash while driving without a valid license.
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