Memphis Tigers DL Ernest Suttles charged with rape, dismissed from football team before Navy game

The Memphis Police Department announced Saturday that Tigers football player Ernest Suttles has been charged with rape.

According to a tweet sent by the MPD's official Twitter account, police responded to St. Francis Hospital for a call for an assault at 3:15 a.m. Saturday. The alleged incident occurred in the 3800 block of Douglas Avenue, a section of houses near the University of Memphis campus. 

The tweet was published just before the Tigers began their football game against No. 24 Navy Saturday afternoon. An earlier tweet about the incident had stated one male suspect was in custody.

According to a police affidavit, the alleged victim reported to the MPD that she had been sexually assaulted by Suttles at his home on the 3800 block of Douglass Avenue on Thursday. The alleged victim also told police that she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Suttles for approximately two months. 

Calkins:Suttles' rape charge casts a pall over Tigers win vs Navy

Suttles was listed on the Shelby County Jail's list of inmates Saturday afternoon with one rape charge. He was released on bond for $7,500, according to Shelby County online court records.

Once police charged Suttles with rape, the University of Memphis announced that he had been dismissed from the football team for a violation of team rules in an off-campus incident. The school initially announced that Suttles had been suspended from the Tigers' football team. 

The university's statement also said Suttles "has been removed from campus as this matter is reviewed by the Office of Student Accountability, Outreach and Support for violations of the UofM Student Code of Conduct."

Suttles denied the allegation of rape in a statement released to The Commercial Appeal Saturday night by his attorney, Blake Ballin.

"Mr. Suttles was accused of rape early this morning and removed from the University of Memphis football team immediately," the statement read. "Mr. Suttles denies any accusation of rape. While a serious matter, being falsely accused of rape is also extremely serious."

Suttles' arrest comes in the wake of on-campus protests last week against rape and sexual assault. 

A student told the school newspaper, the Daily Helmsman, that she was raped twice in 20 days earlier this year in separate off-campus incidents. 

Nicholas Wayman, a 20-year-old U of M student, has been charged with rape and sexual battery in one of the incidents, which allegedly occurred sometime between March 30 and April 3 at a home in Arlington.

President M. David Rudd and other school leaders are hosting a two-hour public forum on Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. focusing on sexual assault and rape on college campuses.

The announcement of Suttles' dismissal came just as Memphis kicked off against No. 24 Navy at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The senior was listed as a co-starter at defensive end this week and had eight tackles through five games this season.

Suttles transferred to Memphis ahead of the 2013 season after being kicked off the Nebraska football team for getting in an altercation with a teammate.  

The Tigers' defense has already seen at least five players expected to play key roles go down with serious injuries this year. Memphis could also be without linebacker Curtis Akins and freshman defensive tackle O'Bryan Goodson this week. 

Safety Shaun Rupert was also dismissed from the team last month after being charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, according to an arrest affidavit. 

Reporter Jennifer Pignolet contributed to this report.

Reach Mark Giannotto at mark.giannotto@commercialappeal.com.