USC linebacker Osa Masina Suspended from Playing Amid Sex Assault Allegations

LOS ANGELES, CA - A USC linebacker being investigated in connection with an alleged sexual assault in Utah was also questioned about a possible crime in Los Angeles, police said today.

Osa Masina, a sophomore, has been suspended for this weekend's Trojan opener in Dallas against the University of Alabama. Head coach Clay Helton said Monday Masina would not travel with the team to Dallas due to an unspecified violation of team rules.

Without naming Masina, police in Los Angeles said today a USC football player has been questioned regarding a local case by detectives from the LAPD's Southwest Division, according to Officer Rosario Herrera of the department's Media Relations Section.

She declined to discuss the nature of the case or the player's possible involvement.

Officials with the Cottonwood Heights (Utah) Police Department told Fox13 in Salt Lake City that Masina was being investigated for a sexual assault allegation, but they did not provide details of the alleged assault.

Police served a search warrant related to the investigation on the USC campus last week, Cottonwood Heights police Sgt. Dan Bartlett told ESPN.

The alleged crime in Utah occurred last month and the incident under investigation in Los Angeles happened prior to that, the sergeant said.

USC is aware of the investigation involving and "cooperating fully with authorities in Utah, the lead agency in the investigation," according to a university statement.

The university could issue no further information due to privacy laws and to protect the rights of other students, according to USC.

City News Service; Photo by Bobak Ha'Eri via Wikimedia Commons