Might be a bit longer...
Derrick Washington suspended indefinitely from MU football team
Thursday, August 26, 2010 | 9:59 p.m. CDT; updated 10:22 p.m. CDT, Thursday, August 26, 2010
COLUMBIA ? Derrick Washington, a captain and starting tailback on the Missouri football team, was issued an order of protection by Boone County Circuit Court Judge Leslie Schneider in June after allegations of sexual assault, according to court documents obtained by the Missourian on Thursday.
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel suspended Washington indefinitely before the Tigers' Thursday scrimmage.
Missouri Athletics Director Mike Alden confirmed on Thursday he has been aware of Washington's legal situation for weeks and that he supports Pinkel's decision to suspend him.
"I am certainly aware of the situation involving Derrick and the coach's decision to suspend him," Alden said. "(I have known) probably, I think for a few weeks, that there were some things that were being evaluated at that time. "
Alden refused to directly confirm that Washington's suspension and the sexual assault allegations were connected, saying that it is not athletics department policy to comment on suspensions.
In court documents, the woman, who is in her early 20s, alleges Washington sexually assaulted her at about 2:30 a.m. on June 19 at the Campus View apartment complex.
"I was sexually assaulted by him. ... I am pressing criminal charges," she wrote in court documents. "I fear physical retaliation."
The woman continued that Washington entered her room "unprovoked."
The order of protection against Washington was first issued three days later, on June 22. This order meant Washington could not abuse, threaten, stalk, molest or disturb the woman. He was also forbidden from going to her residence or communicating with her.
A court hearing was scheduled for July 7, but the woman asked for a continuance the day before the hearing. The hearing would have determined whether a full order of protection was to be issued. The order of protection was renewed until the new court date of July 21.
Neither party showed up to the hearing, and the case was dismissed without prejudice. This means that the issue can come before the courts again, according to the Missouri Bar.
Prosecuting attorney Andrea Hayes said only that she had been referred a case on Derrick Washington.
Attorney Chris Slusher said his law firm, Holder, Susan and Slusher, was hired by the Washington family to help them with some issues brought up with the university. He said his firm understood that a matter had been referred to the prosecutor's office, but criminal charges had not been filed.
Slusher refused to comment on the order of protection filed against Washington because he said he had not seen those documents.
Team spokesman Chad Moller would not comment on why coach Gary Pinkel made his decision to suspend Washington on Thursday.
"The extent of everything we have to say has already been said," Moller said after Thursday's football scrimmage, which Washington did not attend.
Pinkel spoke briefly with the media after the scrimmage and was visibly irritated when asked about Washington's legal matters.
"He's indefinitely suspended for disciplinary reasons," Pinkel said. "As usual, as I've done for 10 years, I don't ever talk about those issues."
The indefinite loss of Washington will impact a Missouri team that is eight days away from its first game against Illinois in St. Louis on Sept. 4. Washington ran for more than 1,000 yards his sophomore season and looked poised in preseason practices to rebound from a disappointing 2009 season in which he was hobbled by a knee injury.
The Missourian attempted to reach Washington by phone, but he did not respond.
It is Missourian policy not to identify victims of sexual assault.
Missourian reporters Len Goldman, Will Guldin, Dieter Kurtenbach and Joan Niesen contributed to this report.
