West Des Moines police and Dallas County authorities are investigating Iowa basketball player Pierre Pierce's possible involvement in a burglary, and officials said they expect to decide whether to file charges as soon as today.
Pierce is not named in police reports, and West Des Moines police Lt. Jeff Miller said it is "too soon to say" if any charges will be filed in the case that also involves allegations of vandalism and assault.
"I can tell you that this is an ongoing investigation," Miller said Monday when asked to what extent he could discuss the Pierre Pierce case. "If (charges) are filed, it will be at the earliest tomorrow."
Des Moines lawyer Alfredo Parrish is representing the 21-year-old guard from Westmont, Ill.
"I have been in touch with the West Des Moines authorities on behalf of Mr. Pierce," said Parrish, who was out of state Monday night. "He believes there was a misunderstanding between himself and this woman (the alleged victim) with whom he's had a relationship for 2½ years.
"I've made arrangements for him to give a statement to the West Des Moines Police Department when I get back in town."
Parrish declined to say when he would return or when Pierce would provide the statement. Pierce, a junior and the Hawkeye's leading scorer with a 17.8 point average, practiced with the team Monday. He did not immediately respond to a message left at his Iowa City apartment.
Authorities released few specifics about the case, but Miller said they expect to make "a quite detailed press release" today. While the West Des Moines Police Department provided a four-paged incident report of the burglary in response to inquiries about Pierce, Miller later declined to identify him as the suspect.
The incident was reported to police Friday and dates from Thursday night or Friday morning at a West Des Moines residence. The incident report lists only a male offender and female victim, ages 18 or older.
Coach Steve Alford said he only learned of the investigation Monday.
"It's taken on a life of its own, and I don't think there's anything there," Alford said.
Earlier, during his weekly radio show, he told a caller: "I don't pay much attention to rumors, so I think you have to wait and see how things all come out before we make some comments or the administration makes any comments, just find out exactly what's going on."
Other UI officials declined comment or did not return phone calls.
Possible charges listed in the report are felony counts of first-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief, as well as misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment and assault with intent to commit injury. Miller would not elaborate and said those are not necessarily the charges authorities are considering but only what the officer wrote down at the scene.
When asked about Pierce, Dallas County Attorney Wayne Reisetter responded: "I don't talk about cases that are under investigation."
The police report also lists $1,300 in property damage or losses of "numerous household items, television, stereo, photos, bedroom furniture." Evidence and photos were taken at the West Des Moines residence, the police report shows. According to the report, there was no forced entry into the residence but the relationship with the unnamed woman is listed as unknown. Parrish said the woman spent the previous weekend with Pierce in Iowa City.
"We don't want to comment on the incident at all," Parrish said. "We're going to give a full statement and full disclosure. ... I'm sure the factual details will be disclosed later, but I think the fact they've had a 2½-year relationship should give folks a perspective on what happened."
