EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan football wide receiver Grant Perry was suspended Thursday for the team's Orange Bowl appearance after being charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault incident in East Lansing.
The former Brother Rice High School standout was charged with four-degree criminal sexual conduct, felony resisting and obstructing police and minor in possession.
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The suspension stems from an Oct. 15 incident at an East Lansing bar. Police said Perry sexually assaulted a woman while standing in line outside Lou & Harry's. Police said the manner in which Perry grabbed the woman caused them to charge him with four-degree criminal sexual conduct.
When police arrived at the bar, they said Perry tried to flee and resisted arrest. They said he was under the influence of alcohol at the time. During the chase and arrest, a police officer suffered a hand injury.
After the incident, Perry was suspended for two games, but then returned to the field. Now, Michigan said, he will not play until the court case is resolved.
The investigation into exactly what happened outside the bar has been going on since Oct. 15. East Lansing police asked if anyone in the communityhad seen what happened without revealing that a Michigan football player was involved.
Whoever came forward in connection to the incident provided enough information to allow police to bring charges against Perry, they said.
Perry turned himself in and was arraigned Wednesday in East Lansing District Court. He was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Michigan will lose starting wide receivers Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson to graduation this offseason, so further discipline to Perry could leave an even bigger hole in the offense. Fortunately for Jim Harbaugh's team, they recruited several talented wide receivers last season, including Eddie McDoom, Kekoa Crawford and Nate Johnson.
More help is on the way in the 2017 recruiting class, as the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan, Donovan Peoples-Jones, will suit up as a receiver for the Wolverines. Harbaugh has also secured commitments from four-star Tarik Black and three-star Brad Hawkins.