Alleged rape by UT Vols football players happened at large party, police say

The Woodlands Apartment Complex on Cherokee Trail Monday, Nov. 17, 2014. Knoxville police said the incident happened at the Woodlands Apartment Complex early Sunday morning. Photo by Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams

KNOXVILLE - The investigation into an alleged rape and sexual assault involving Tennessee football players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams remains ongoing, a Knoxville Police Department official said Wednesday afternoon.

According to a KPD report released Tuesday, a 19-year-old woman told police she was raped by Johnson and Williams early Sunday morning at a Knoxville apartment complex.

The two players remain suspended from all team-related activities while the investigation continues.

"It's still ongoing," KPD public information officer Darrell DeBusk said. "We have interviewed multiple people. We still have some individuals that we need to interview. We're trying to get it wrapped up as quickly as we can.

"We have been in contact several times, both over the phone and in person, with the district attorney's office, so they're well aware of the information that we have. Right now it's just an ongoing investigation."

DeBusk could not say whether investigators have interviewed Johnson, a senior linebacker and the Volunteers' best defensive player, and Williams, a cornerback who's also on Tennessee's track team.

"That's something that we can't discuss," he said. "We can't talk about who we'ved talked to and who we've not talked to."

According to DeBusk, there were "numerous people at and near the apartment complex when the incident occurred."

Police said Monday they executed a search warrant on the apartment at The Woodlands, which is roughly three miles south of Tennessee's campus.

There's no timetable on the conclusion of the investigation, at which point the case will go into the hands of the Knox County District Attorney's Office, which would then determine if charges need to be filed and what those charges would be.

"Every investigation's different is based on the evidence that you're recovered, the number of witnesses - all that plays into every investigation," DeBusk said. "Some move slower than others. Some move a lot faster. There's really no standard time that you expect an investigation to take, because every case is different."

Tennessee coach Butch Jones said after Tuesday's practice it was "very difficult" suspending the two players, but he declined further comment on the investigation.

"It's the situation there we're in," he said, "and that's about all that I can comment right now as it's going through the legal process."

The Vols host 19th-ranked Missouri on Saturday night in their final home game of the season.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.