NBA teams
ESPN.com news services 8y

L.A. police investigating complaint against Knicks guard Derrick Rose

NBA, New York Knicks

The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed it continues to investigate a complaint filed against New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose but said there is no timetable on if or when the case will be closed.

A woman filed a civil sexual assault case against Rose on Aug. 26, 2015, saying Rose and two friends raped her. The suit accused Rose and his friends of slipping a drug into her drink before committing sexual acts against her will.

Detective Nadine Hernandez said the investigation into the criminal complaint has been ongoing for less than a year, but that the exact date of when the complaint was filed with the LAPD is under seal. She said Rose has not been interviewed, though an "offer is on the table" for him to speak, adding there is no timetable to conclude the investigation.

"We have to let the investigation go where it takes us," Hernandez said.

Speaking at Knicks media day Monday, Rose said he had not been aware of the LAPD investigation. He also said he could miss time with the team during the civil case, which is scheduled to start Oct. 4 in Los Angeles. The Knicks open their preseason schedule on the same day, on the road against the Houston Rockets.

"I'm not worried about it, but if I do have to miss time it's a part of it," Rose said. "Of course, I don't want to be in this position, but it is what it is. I'm going to let my lawyers handle that, let my team handle it."

Rose also reiterated that he feels he is innocent of the lawsuit's allegations.

"I feel like I didn't do anything wrong. I can't let that distract me with the year that I have ahead of me," Rose said.

In July, a federal judge denied Rose's motion to dismiss the case.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald ruled that the woman's identity would not be protected in the case. ESPN does not routinely release the names of sexual assault accusers and has not done so in this case.

Rose said recent media coverage of the civil case hasn't been a distraction.

"I really haven't been thinking about it. I'm thinking about the team more than anything, like how to jell with the team, getting used to the players, just getting used to the organization, the GM, president, Phil [Jackson], Steve [Mills] and all, just getting used to them," Rose said. "As far as the trial, that's something I can't think about because it's not true, I will be proven innocent."

ESPN Knicks reporter Ian Begley contributed to this report

^ Back to Top ^