MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. -- For the second time in a year, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of sexual misconduct, with police investigating him Saturday for an alleged assault at a nightclub in a Georgia college town.
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Police in Milledgeville were examining the claim of a 20-year-old student, who told an officer that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her early Friday. The police department had no plans to comment further until Monday at the earliest.
The case comes as Roethlisberger faces a lawsuit filed last July by a woman who says he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino, an allegation he strongly denies. Roethlisberger, who was not in custody, has not been criminally charged in either case and has claimed counter-damages in the lawsuit.
Still, to hear it on the airwaves in Pittsburgh, this latest situation seems to have shaken fans of the star quarterback, a man who has never hidden the fact he enjoys the nightlife. He has been spotted gambling in Las Vegas and is sometimes seen in public with small groups of friends and bodyguards.
The latest accusation came early Friday in downtown Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta and about 30 miles south of the lake home the player owns. Roethlisberger, who turned 28 on Tuesday, and two or three friends went to Buffington's bar earlier Thursday night to watch the University of Pittsburgh men's college basketball game, said Paul Kurcikevicus, a 24-year-old college student.
He said the group was friendly, at first joking that Roethlisberger was not the NFL player. Kurcikevicus said Roethlisberger bought shots for him and some other people in the bar: "O-Bombs," a mixture of energy drink and flavored rum.
The group later went to The Brick restaurant nearby, owner Frank Pendergrast said.
"He was very polite with everybody," Pendergrast said. "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."
Roethlisberger was later seen at Capital City, a popular nightclub for students at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.
One patron at the bar on Friday night, 21-year-old college student Brandon Harris, said he saw Roethlisberger come in the night before with two or three big men who were keeping other club goers away. Harris said the group went into a curtained VIP area in the back of the club, and some women were let inside.
Amber Hanley, a 21-year-old college student, said she and a few friends were also in the VIP area with Roethlisberger. She said she asked the quarterback to take a photo with her friend, who was a fan, but he seemed disappointed that's all she wanted. Hanley said she rolled her eyes, and Roethlisberger called her an expletive and walked away. Later, Roethlisberger was aggressively hitting on another girl, Hanley said.
Deputy Police Chief Richard Malone said Friday that 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.
"He's been identified as being at the scene and there are allegations naming him as the perpetrator," Malone said. The nature of the assault was not described, but Malone did say it was being termed a sexual assault, not a rape.
Roethlisberger and the alleged victim were interviewed and the woman was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released, Malone said. The woman was not identified by police and The Associated Press does not generally identify possible victims of sexual abuse.
Police said Roethlisberger and his attorney were cooperating with investigators. He was not in custody.
The player's agent, Ryan Tollner, said in a statement he was skeptical of the motive of the alleged victim in Milledgeville because of the previous Lake Tahoe allegations. Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said the team was gathering information and had no comment.
As Pittsburgh's first-round draft pick out of Miami of Ohio in 2004, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to Super Bowl victories in 2006 and 2009. He has frequently donated time and money to charities, and his charitable foundation awards a police dog to a department near every Steelers road opponent.
However, with his championships and $102 million contract have come several off-the-field problems. In 2006, he defied his coach's orders and rode his motorcycle without a helmet - and wound up with a concussion, broken jaw and other injuries after a wreck.
And while Roethlisberger has a reputation for patiently signing autographs and posing for pictures while out in public, he also is known for occasionally inelegant behavior in Pittsburgh. Early in his career, he was photographed - obviously after imbibing in alcohol - wearing a T-shirt reading "Drink Like a Champion." Restaurant owners in Pittsburgh have complained he has tried to skip out on bills, arguing he brought business to the establishment.
The public largely supported him when he was accused of sexual assault in Nevada. But radio shows in Pittsburgh have been flooded with calls since Friday's allegation - few of them sympathetic, with many wondering if the new case indicates a troubling pattern of behavior.
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AP Sports Writer Alan Robinson in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.
Since the AP and other news organizations are so kind as to keep the alleged victim's name confidential, it would probably be wise to do so for the accused until the investigation is completed. This doesn't mean the incident did not happen as reported. However, given the circumstances, location and involvement of alcohol it would be prudent to wait until all the facts are in. Since this isn't an allegation of rape as was the case in the Lake Tahoe case, it would help if AP would wait until a more clear definition of what occured is available.
It is really sad when people like Roethlisberger don't learn their lesson and continually put themselves into situations that make it a public relations nightmare. Fame is a fleeting thing and if you aren't careful it can disappear quickly or make you infamous.
You never know what goes through a young man's mind but Ben has a right to enjoy himself at a nightclub if he so chooses. The man is in the off season and that is the time to do so. Unfortunately, his fame and fortune attracts opportunist and that goes with the territory. I'm not saying that he can't get a little rambunctious but he would hardly have to force himself on any woman. In reality, he has many more opportunities than he could possibly fulfill. I'm not saying that he is innocent but one has to be skeptical of the accuser.
Boys will be boys. It's not like he was doing anything to dogs. It was just women! Go Big Ben!!! (I'm being sarcastic of course)
Sounds wrong to me. Secluded VIP section in the rear of the club. Women ask to go back there. I am not a football fan but Ben would be stupid to try and rape someone inside a club where sounds of battle could be heard.
Each one of you have already hit on the same things I see. The only thing I would add is that now he has a big target on his back that says "sue me" I am not saying that anything gives a man a right to rape a woman at all. But if a woman goes back to curtained off area with a man, what would she expect? Main point, people need to be careful where they go and who they hang out with because it can lead to trouble and heartache.
Duke LaCross Case, Tawana Brawley, don't rush to judgement.
No one would accuse me of being anything other than pro-women. As one poster said, "nothing gives a man a right to rape a woman", but come on ..... What an idiot the 20-year-old has to be (and why is she allowed in a nightclub, by the way? Isn't 21 still the legal age for being served alcohol??) to put herself in this situation. Can't say much for Big Ben's judgment either, but the fact that it's a "sexual assault" and not a rape claim makes me wonder if the lady (girl? kid?) doth protest too much.
...and so many are so worried about the gays and the gay pride parade! LOL. Such a lovely role model of heterosexualism...as well as intelligence. "Hmmmmm....let's see. I am worth millions and cant control my lust for the spotlight and women (normal sin vs abnormal sin...lol)...so I will put myself in the best position possible....a bar with drunk women! Yeah. That sounds great." Lock him up! Throw away the key! Go Browns! LOL
...one last note...and my tax money is being used to try this in a court of law?!?! Can I get a refund and use it on the gay pride parade, please?
Ben's a nice looking guy with a lot going for him. It wouldn't surprise me if the women forced themselves on HIM.
Reader54 Fame and fortune also goes to a person's head and they think they can get away with anything. The question you should be asking is what was he doing hanging out with such a young crowd if has so many opportunities?
Nat, for some reason, I just don't think so!
If you have to drink to have fun you already have emotional problems. Drinking serves no good purpose. God gave us a wonderful mind and the ability to enjoy life to it's max and nothing we can do will improve that mind. If you need it to relax around people you have a people problem so why add the possibility of a drinking problem.
The reason so many famous athletes remain isolated is because when they don't , they're always being accused of rape or sexual assault. While they may or may not be guilty, the "victim" is always protected and the famous person is always "news". Keep the body guards close and buy fresh women, it's safer.
"While they may or may not be guilty, the "victim" is always protected and the famous person is always "news". "
God knows we need to protect our physical and financial elites from an average female college student.. When will the media shine a light on where the true power lies: anonymous, largely inexperienced 20 year old women?
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