TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Tallahassee Police Department released a timeline of its sexual assault investigation into Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston on Wednesday afternoon.
Interim chief Tom Coe said that TPD would not release details of the investigation but instead felt that "there have been process questions that I want to respond to because I believe they demonstrate TPD's professionalism and the investigative processes of a sexual battery case."
The report details events beginning with the alleged sexual assault, which occurred on Dec. 7, 2012. News of the investigation surfaced two weeks ago after media inquiries by TMZ and the Tampa Bay Times.
Winston has not been arrested or charged, and the investigation is still ongoing. Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman told FOX Sports Florida in an email Wednesday that she expected the investigation to go into next week and possibly longer.
"Definitely after Thanksgiving weekend," Cappleman wrote. "Could be another week after we get back to work."
Said Coe: "Sexual battery cases are some of the most difficult crimes to investigate as they are unique and personal in nature. TPD will continue to work in coordination with the State Attorney's office in order to ensure justice is served in this case."
A redshirt freshman, Winston has already thrown for 3,163 yards and 32 touchdowns for Florida State. The Seminoles are 11-0 heading into Saturday's regular-season finale at Florida (4-7). Winston is listed atop the Heisman Trophy polls, but some voters are also weighing in the continuing investigation.
Below is TPD's timeline:
The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) responds to a sexual battery case referred by the Florida State University Police Department because the alleged incident occurred off campus. TPD transports the victim to the hospital for treatment and evidence is collected including a sexual assault kit. An investigator responds to the hospital and interviews the victim.
An initial police report is filed. Contact is made with an assistant state attorney related to obtaining cell phone records, although no potential suspect had yet been identified.
Additional investigative follow up is conducted, including witness interviews, pursuing investigative leads, issuing a court order and a search warrant.
The victim calls the investigator and identifies a suspect by name and a meeting is scheduled with the victim.
An attorney contacts TPD representing the victim and indicates all future contact will be through her and the meeting with the victim does not occur.
TPD investigator makes contact with the suspect and requests an interview.
Based upon now having a named suspect, all applicable evidence is sent to Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for processing.
The potential suspect's attorney tells TPD his client declined to be interviewed.
A supplemental police report is filed indicating the case is open but inactive and will be further pursued if the victim decides to pursue charges.
Results received from the FDLE Toxicology Section are received, which are relayed to the victim's attorney. The victim's attorney stated she would review the findings with her client and contact the investigator if she wished to pursue the case further.
FDLE provides the analysis of the sexual assault kit to TPD.
