An unidentified New Jersey woman claimed New York Mets pitcher David Cone raped her in a hotel, but police said Tuesday they have not determined there was a crime.
The woman claimed the attack occurred Saturday, the night before Cone tied the NL strikeout record with 19 against the Philadelphia Phillies.Police spokesman Edward Tenuto said the allegation was under investigation and that no charges had been filed.
"It's still not being called a rape," he said. "We can't talk about charges because we don't know that there is a crime yet."
Police would not identify the woman's alleged assailant, but Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz confirmed that club officials were aware the allegations concerned Cone.
"David Cone is a fine young man, a fine pitcher," New York general manager Al Harazin said. "We hope this case is quickly cleared up and that he's exonerated."
Cone also was defended by his agent, Stephen Fehr.
"David did nothing wrong and I believe that very strongly," Fehr said. "We have retained counsel to work in Philadelphia to assist with the matter. Beyond that, I think it would be inappropriate to comment at this time, except to state that the publicity which the matter has received is unfortunate."
Tenuto said a 24-year-old woman, whose identity was withheld, reported the alleged incident occurred Saturday at the Hilton Towers, formerly the Hershey Philadelphia Hotel.
She contacted police Sunday morning and was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for examination.
"It is our understanding that the woman was acquainted with the man she alleges attacked her," Tenuto said. "That is why, until the investigation is completed, this is not being handled as a rape."
A source involved with commissioner Fay Vincent's office, who said police informed him of the incident, gave the Philadelphia Inquirer this account of the woman's allegations:
"They met at a bar. Based on their previous acquaintance, she felt comfortable going to his room. There was a good deal of consensual activity," the source said.
"She agreed to give him a massage, and it . . . culminated in forcible intercourse. She says she was attacked and he forced himself on her."
According to the source, the woman angrily confronted Cone at the hotel bar about 11 p.m. Saturday.
Hilton spokeswoman Karen Matlini referred questions to police. Rich Levin, Vincent's spokesman, said the commissioner's office was monitoring the situtation.
Cone was in Philadelphia with the Mets for the season-ending weekend series, which concluded with a 7-0 victory against the Phillies.
The 19 strikeouts tied an NL record jointly held by Philadelphia's Steve Carlton and New York's Tom Seaver.