ODU athlete suspended after rape arrest

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Old Dominion University's head football coach has suspended a player who police arrested for multiple sexual assault charges involving alleged date rape drugs.

Coach Bobby Wilder released the following statement regarding the suspension of rising senior wide receiver Reid Evans:

"Due to an ongoing criminal investigation, it is in the best interest of the Old Dominion University football program that Reid Evans has been suspended from the team indefinitely.

We hold all of our young men accountable to high standards of conduct, as they serve as ambassadors for our University. We respect the due process of our legal system as these charges are investigated, however I want to ensure the integrity of our football program and University are not compromised throughout this process."

Police arrested Evans and Jack Ly, also an ODU student, for their roles in reported sexual assaults. Police said the alleged assaults happened June 17 in a campus dormitory. Ly doesn't play on the football team.

Both men face two counts of rape, sodomy, abduction, conspiracy to commit sodomy and conspiracy to commit abduction and are being held in the Norfolk City Jail under no bond. They are scheduled to make their first court appearance Monday.

"For people who feel that they are in a higher position, because they are athletes and think they can get away with stuff like that it's really terrifying," said ODU student Taylor Bentley.

Police said they received multiple reports of sexual assaults, and the victims believed they were targeted with date rape drugs. The victims told police they could not remember parts of the night, and their drunken state didn't match up with the number of drinks they consumed.

Students say they know they have to be careful when they go out

"I've always watched my drink and my parents have always told me if you put your drink down get a new one, but people get really crafty," Bentley added.

Students and faculty learned of the allegations from a university-wide email alert around 10:30 p.m. Friday. The email alert explained the drugs' effects and asked students to watch their drinks and watch out for each other.

If you believe you were a victim, or if you have any information, ODU police ask you to call them at 757-683-4000. Confidential support is available at the Women's Center, located at 1000 Webb Center on campus. For more information, you can call the Women's Center at 757-683-4109.