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Craig Monroe
Update: 9:05 a.m. Wednesday -- The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office in southwest Florida said it is investigating sexual abuse allegations involving popular Detroit Tigers sportscaster Craign Monroe, the Detroit Free Press reports. The ex-Tiger was removed from the broadcast booth after a June 9 game.
Police are investigating an alleged child sex crime in Port Charlotte, Fla., the Freep reports. He had been broadcasting Tigers games since 2012.
The allegations first surfaced last month on social media. A 35-year-old woman alleged that Monroe first began sexually abusing her when she was 12 when he was in his 20s, and had intercourse at age 15, Fox 2 reports. She alleges at age 18, they had a consensual relationship, but Monroe also passed her around to friends.
The accuser's family was Monroe’s host family while he played for a minor league baseball team in Charlotte County, Florida in the early 2000s, the woman alleged, according to Fox 2.
Fox 2 reports that the woman says she delayed coming forward until last month out of concern for her and her family's safety, knowing the allegations would attract widespread attention.
In a statement provided through his attorney Michael Manley, Monroe, 47, "vehemently" denied the allegations, Fox 2 reports
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Report From Tuesday
The Popular Detroit sportscaster Craig Monroe, a regular fixture on Tigers broadcasts, has been taken off the air in wake of sexual abuse allegations, Fox 2 reports.
The station reports the former Detroit Tiger, who is 47, has been accused of sexually abusing a woman since she was a minor.
Fox 2, citing unnamed sources close to the situation, reports that Monroe was taken off the broadcast schedule hours after a 35-year-old woman made the allegations on social media last month.
She also reported the alleged a abuse to police, claiming it began when she was 12 and Monroe was in his 20s, the station reports, adding:
The accuser's family was Monroe’s host family while he played for a minor league baseball team in Charlotte County, Florida in the early 2000s, she said. It started with Monroe coming into her room to fondle her, and it escalated from there – eventually leading to intercourse when she was 15 years old.
Fox 2's Jessica Dupnack reported that the woman alleged that after she turned 18, she and Monroe had an ongoing consensual and sexual relationship, but he would "prostitute" her to his friends and acquaintances.
He was last on the air June 9.
Dupnack said the station reached out to Monroe but was unable to get a comment.
In a statement, Bally Sports Detroit said:
"Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers are aware of the social media allegations and take them seriously. As previously stated, Mr. Monroe has not been on the broadcast schedule and that will continue on an indefinite basis."
Before becoming a broadcaster, the Texas native played for the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates. He played for the Tigers from 2002-2007. He ended his major league career in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
