49ers release Ray McDonald after sexual assault investigation

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday released defensive lineman Ray McDonald after he became the focus of a sexual assault investigation.

McDonald came to San Jose, Calif., police attention Tuesday after they got a call from a hospital. A woman there told police she had been "possibly sexually assaulted a day prior" by McDonald, a police report said.

The incident came four months after the NFLer was arrested on a felony count of domestic violence.

San Francisco 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke said he decided to release McDonald after discussing the situation with team CEO Jed York and head coach Jim Harbaugh.

"This isn't about this one incident," Baalke said. "This is about a pattern. Once again, if this was one incident we would be standing up here talking about due process like we have multiple times in multiple other situations. But this is just a pattern of decision making that Ray has demonstrated over the period of time that, once again, it's not longer going to be tolerated."

McDonald has not been arrested by police for the alleged sexual assault.