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The Los Angeles Police Department continues a criminal rape investigation against New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose, who is scheduled to go to court next week in a civil case. In a letter obtained by ThinkProgress.org, the LAPD detective in charge of the case wrote a letter to the unnamed accuser's attorney attempting to clear up reports that Rose was not under investigation.
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The civil trial against Rose and two friends is scheduled to begin on Oct. 4. In July, a federal judge denied Rose's motion to dismiss the case. Rose turns 28 on the day of the civil trial.
A woman filed a civil sexual assault case against Rose on Aug. 26, 2015, alleging Rose and two friends raped her. The suit accuses Rose and his friends of slipping a drug into her drink, and the accuser says she was incapacitated and did not give consent.
Rose, who has not been criminally charged in the case, has denied those claims and said that the sex was consensual.
A Los Angeles judge ruled last week that the accuser can't remain anonymous once the civil trial begins.
LAPD Detective Nadine Hernandez, in charge of the case, argues in the letter that maintaining the victim's anonymity "is an invaluable investigative aid to investigators" and the department plans to maintain her anonymity "throughout the criminal investigation being handled by the Los Angeles Police Department."
In response to Hernandez's letter, the accuser's attorney has requested the judge reconsider the ruling. The accuser is identified in court records as Jane Doe.
Rose, former NBA MVP Derrick Rose with the Chicago Bulls, will be entering his first season with the Knicks after being traded in the offseason. He is in the final season of a five-year $94.3 million deal and is scheduled to make $21.3 million in 2016-17.
The oft-injured Rose tore his ACL in his left knee during the 2012 playoffs before tearing the meniscus in his right knee early in the 2013-14 campaign. He averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 assists in 66 games for the Bulls last season.
