The Seattle Police Department has released new evidence that suggests officials at the University of Washington knew about and discussed rape accusations against Tylin Rogers before allowing the sophomore running back to continue playing last fall.
Documents released by the police department on Monday reveal internal UW athletic department emails sent Nov. 30, just two days after one of Rogers' alleged victims posted on social media about the attack and filed a Title IX report against him at the university.
According to the The Spokesman-Review, the emails show that Rogers was removed from the travel roster for the Pac-12 Championship Game on Dec. 1, but did not explain why. Rogers, who has been suspended from the team, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second- and third-degree rape, and his attorney has said he is innocent.
Two women, including a 19-year-old Seattle Central College student and a 22-year-old UQ student have accused Rogers of raping them in October and November of last year.
Police records also reveal text messages involving UW athletics staff referencing Rogers that were sent within two week of the woman's Nov. 28 social media post and Title IX report.
One screenshot shows a text message sent Dec. 6 to an unidentified UW football coach asking the coach to share contact information for a defense attorney with Rogers. The message was from Leon Neal, the name of a former UW running back.
At that time, UW offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb had said in an interview with Sports Illustrated's FanNation that Rogers had had some challenges "off the field," but didn't specify what those were.
Less than three weeks after the woman reported Rogers to the university’s Title IX office, which investigates complaints of sexual misconduct by university students and staff, he returned to practice Dec. 15. He played in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 and the College Football Playoff Championship Game on Jan. 8.
“The timeline of social media posts as well as Roger’s suspension led me to believe there is a connection between his suspension and her disclosure of the assault, especially after the comments made by the coaching staff,” Seattle police Detective Emily Akiyama wrote in the report.
Grubb and former UW coach Kalen DeBoer left Jan. 12 to work for Alabama. Grubb has since returned to Seattle to work as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. And Troy Dannen, then UW’s athletic director, abruptly left March 20 after less than six months on the job to take the same position at the University of Nebraska.
UW's new coach, Jedd Fisch, said he suspended Rogers indefinitely as soon as he learned of the allegations.
“I wasn’t here for that,” Fisch said. “That has nothing to do with me.”
Seattle police arrested Rogers near Husky Stadium on April 5. He was charged in King County Superior Court with the two rape counts and was released after posting a bond for 10% of his $300,000 bail, records show.
After Rogers’ arraignment, Flennaugh told reporters outside the courtroom “there are a lot of issues, and we’re going to address them in court.”
A trial is set for July 8.
