The University of Maine men’s hockey team will be missing a center until the university can review facts surrounding charges against him of assault and unlawful sexual touching.
Early Sunday morning, freshman Tanner House allegedly grabbed a woman’s breast at 103 Ultra Lounge, according to Orono Police Capt. Josh Ewing.
Around 1:15 a.m., the woman was talking to one of the club’s bouncers near the entrance to the club. She told police that during the conversation, House, whom she did not know, approached and grabbed her left breast.
The woman tried, unsuccessfully, to keep House in the building until she could call the police. When he left, club staff followed him toward the Orchard Trails apartment complex while the club’s manager Robbie Snow reported the incident to Officer Derek Dinsmore, who was across the street in his police car.
The officer called Sgt. Scott Lajoie, who met up with the staff members following House. Lajoie brought House back to the club where he was issued a summons and charged. The police report did not say if House was intoxicated.
House is scheduled to appear at Third District Court in Bangor at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1.
UMaine Athletic Director Blake James was unavailable for comment, but according to UMaine Director of University Relations Joe Carr, House was suspended indefinitely as of Monday.
When a UMaine athlete gets into trouble he or she is required by the athletic code of conduct to notify the university within 24 hours.
The university will conduct two investigations. As the Athletic Director, James will decide if House has violated the athletic code of conduct and how he will be punished. House will also be investigated by UMaine Student Affairs to decide if he has violated the student code of conduct.
Carr would not comment on how severely House could be punished. “The problem with describing a range is that we risk suggesting what the punishment might be.”
Both investigations are conducted independent of the legal process. The reviews are expected to take three or four days.
