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Friday, January 3, 1997

Michael Irvin-Erik Williams investigation slows

By Alan Sutton / Chicago Tribune (Jan. 3, 1997)

DALLAS (KRT) - Pick a title, any title.

"Dallas." Oops, that one has been taken.

She said, they said.

Maybe the drama that's being played out in these parts of Texas should take that old "Nightline" tag: Dallas Held Hostage: Day Three.

And if that's the case as this under-the-microscope NFL franchise tries to get its act together for Sunday's playoff game with Carolina, who is holding the denizens of this storied community hostage?

Some would argue it's the Dallas police department, which Monday released a report in which a 23-year-old Mesquite, Tex., woman says she was raped by Cowboy tackle Erik Williams and another man while star wide receiver Michael Irvin held a gun to her head Sunday.

Some would say it's the unnamed woman herself, whose story has been held up to intense scrutiny by the media - and now her estranged husband.

Some would say it's Irvin and Williams, whose past run-ins with the law have even the most loyal fan wondering what's next.

Some would say it's the media, specifically the NBC affiliate that broke the story early Tuesday and since has spent time denying the woman is on its payroll.

One thing is virtually certain. Irvin and Williams, once thought in danger of missing Sunday's playoff game at Carolina, will be in Charlotte.

The situation changed noticeably Thursday when police announced it would take much longer than originally thought to investigate the alleged incident at Williams' posh house.

"We're in the very early stages of the investigation," said Ed Spencer, a police spokesman. "It's going to be days at least, if not weeks, before any determination is made if there's a criminal case to be filed."

And Irvin's attorney, state Sen. Royce West, appeared on "Good Morning, America" to maintain his client has an alibi from a security guard at Williams' gated community.

"That security guard will state Mr. Michael Irvin never went to Erik Williams' house Sunday night," West said.

After Thursday's practice, Williams released a statement after two days of "no comments."

"I've been falsely accused of something I didn't do and I'm looking forward to the truth to come out as soon as possible," Williams said. "I'm not a bad person. . . ."

Dallas police backed off earlier statements, when they said charges could be filed as early as Thursday. A police press release didn't mention the players' names.

It also says neither player had been interviewed by police - and and that no determination has been made when to talk to them at all.

"Detectives are gathering and evaluating physical evidence and will be interviewing a number of individuals who may have knowledge about the allegations and whereabouts of thee suspects named by the complainant," the release stated.

Detectives had seized a reportedly damaging videotape and a gun at Williams' house Tuesday. But in Thursday's Dallas Morning News, the accuser's estranged husband said he doubted her story.

"It seems very reasonable she is making this up," said the 22-year-old man, who was not identified. "She's very melodramatic. She accused me of doing this, and she accused her fiance before me of doing this, so I don't know why she wouldn't do it again."

But the police will have to weigh statements like this against those of the woman's friends, who believe her and say they consoled her after the reported rape.

That ubiquitous pendulum of public opinion has been swinging wildly the past few days in the home of America's Problem. Even Cowboy faithful were ready to throw in the towel when they first heard of the alleged attack. That's because in the past two years, Irvin and Williams have had previous experience in dealing with Dallas legal authorities.

At the beginning of this season, the NFL suspended Irvin for five games as the result of his no-contest plea to a drug charge in April. In April 1995, a 17-year-old topless dancer accused Williams of sexual assault. But the teen refused to cooperate with prosecutors after reaching an out-of-court settlement with Williams.

The past two days Irvin has acted like the victim, goading the media by saying, "I'm looking forward to helping and cooperating in any way I can. I'm also looking forward to seeing how you guys are going to rewrite, reprint and rerun all these things about what happened Sunday night when you find out that I wasn't even at Erik's house."

(c) 1996, Chicago Tribune.

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