Cleveland police confirm they interviewed Gareon Conley Monday regarding the rape allegations made in April. The interview took place just a few days after Conley was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Gareon Conley, a former cornerback at Ohio State, is accused of raping a woman at the Westin Hotel on St. Clair Avenue on April 9.
RELATED: Weeks after rape allegations, police still need to take statement from Gareon Conley
Police gathered information from Conley’s accuser — a 23-year-old woman — at the hotel early that morning. After talking to officers, she was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center, where a rape kit was administered.
The reporting officer said he tried to follow up with the alleged victim at the hospital but she “just kept saying she wanted to go home and that her dignity was stripped from her in a manner of minutes.”
Cleveland police have not filed charges against Conley in connection to the case and say the investigation in ongoing.
Conley’s attorney, Kevin Spellacy, would not provide a statement to News 5, only saying: “No comment other than what’s been previously quoted.”
Spellacy spoke to Cleveland.com, calling the accusations "ridiculous and ludicrous.” He said the woman who reported the incident is "an opportunist."
"There was no sexual assault," he said. "We've cooperated fully with the police. I actually reached out to them before they even asked us."
Responding to an email inquiry about the NFL's response from News 5, a spokesperson wrote:
"Alleged incident took place prior to the draft but we will still review."
The spokesperson attached the NFL's official Personal Conduct Policy to the email and highlighted two sections:
- Page 8 re: definition of "repeat offenders": "When appropriate, conduct occurring prior to the player's association with the NFL will be considered."
- Page 6 on discipline: "Repeat offenders will be subject to enhanced and/or expedited discipline, including banishment from the league with an opportunity to reapply."
A Cleveland police 'detail' report describes the events of April 9, according to the accuser:
- The woman walked back to the hotel at 2:45 a.m. with some friends
- In the elevator, they met Conley
- The alleged victim decided not to go back to her room and instead go with Conley to his room
- The woman noticed another man and woman inside the hotel room
- “Conley asked [the alleged victim] if she wanted to have a foursome with the couple in the bathroom. [The alleged victim] said she did not want to have a foursome. She told Conley she wanted to watch the couple in the bathroom. [The alleged victim] only said this to Conley to try and avoid having sex with Conley all together. “
- Conley then sexually assaulted the woman
- During the act, [the alleged victim] was saying ‘no stop, it hurts!’ Afterward, Conley kicked the woman out of the room
- The woman said Conley wouldn’t take his sunglasses off and had an Ohio State tattoo on his left forearm.
- Officers spoke to two witnesses at the hotel. Conley was not there when police arrived.
One of the witnesses said Conley was with the woman but he never touched her. He said the woman was mad because she was kicked out of the room.
The other witness told police the two were laying in the bed together but nothing happened.
Conley is one of several players in the 2017 NFL Draft class who have had run-ins with the law.
