Tallahassee cops sat on a sexual assault investigation targeting Florida State University football star Jameis Winston for nearly a year before handing it over to prosecutors this week, authorities said.
The case centering on the Heisman Trophy front-runner was opened on Dec. 7, 2012, after a student called police from a dorm to report the alleged attack, which happened at an off-campus apartment.
Normal procedure for criminal cases calls for cops to give the information to prosecutors if there is evidence for an arrest, or it is considered a “close call,” said Florida Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman.
Prosecutors did not get the case until Tuesday, Cappleman said.
Tallahassee police have declined to say why they waited so long to hand over the information to prosecutors.
News of Winston’s alleged assault broke this week, stunning fans of the No. 2-ranked FSU, which has had a perfect season.
Tallahassee cops on Wednesday released a heavily redacted police report of the incident after media requests.
Winston is not named in the paperwork. Prosecutors wouldn’t confirmed the redshirt freshman quarterback is the suspect in the attack, but law enforcement sources told The Miami Herald Winston is the subject of the assault, which records show took place between 1:30 am and 2 am Dec. 7.
No charges have been filed.
Winston’s lawyer, Timothy Jansen, said the ballplayer has not been interviewed by police or prosecutors. He said his client did nothing wrong, adding he thought the probe was closed.
“When I spoke to the detective in February he told me the case was closed,” Jansen said. “I relayed that to my client and to university officials.”
But a Tallahassee police spokesman said the alleged victim is cooperating with prosecutors and the case is “open and active.”
Jansen said he gave prosecutors eyewitness affidavits on Tuesday but declined to elaborate, saying only, “They’re witnesses who were present who can provide vital information.”
On the police report, the narrative description from the investigating officer is redacted.
The report indicates investigators took evidence from the alleged victim’s body, and photos of injuries. The motive is listed as “sexual gratification,” and the report says “physical force” was used.
The alleged victim told police she had been drinking “before/during offense.”
The suspect is listed as being “muscular,” and “polite,” between 5-foot-9 and 5-11. Winston is 6-4.
With AP