For the second time in less than a year, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ray McDonald has found himself the center of police investigation. Unlike last time however, a domestic dispute with his fiancée would be a welcomed ordeal. McDonald is being probed for potential sexual assault charge and guilty or not, the current predicament has cost him his job.
Via MSN:
Northern California authorities said Wednesday that they are investigating San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald on suspicion of sexual assault.
San Jose Police Department Sgt. Heather Randol said detectives searched McDonald’s San Jose home.
“The victim alleged she was possibly sexually assaulted a day prior,” Randol said. “Based on preliminary investigation, detectives secured a search warrant and served it at the alleged suspect’s residence in San Jose.”
Randol didn’t immediately respond to follow up questions seeking to clarify the reference to the alleged victim saying she was “possibly sexually assaulted.”
No arrests have been made or charges filed.
McDonald could not be immediately reached for comment. San Francisco 49ers spokesman Dan Beckler didn’t immediately return a phone call.
Following the reports, the 49ers had seen enough off-the-field yellow flags and decided to release McDonald from the team. It’s been a year of infamy for the NFL and the 49ers organization didn’t want any additional drama outside their dismal .500 record.
“This is about a pattern of poor behavior,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke told ESPN and the Associated Press. “We expect a lot from our players, hold them accountable for their actions.” Quarterback Colin Kaepernick also chimed in saying, “It’s not a situation you want to hear about. Very unfortunate,” quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. “He’s a good friend to a lot of people on this team. No one thought bad of him. Hopefully it’s just a misunderstanding. … I understand why the team did what it did. Other than that, it’s not my business.”
McDonald was scheduled to make $3.5 million before the incidents began to occur and saw a drastic reduction in salary to just $855,000. Now he’s in the unemployment line. These NFL players just love flushing money down the toilet, apparently.
Flip through the gallery below to see NBC Bay Area news reporter Damian Trujillo’s watchful updates on the situation.
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Photo: ABC7
