Police question Cubs star Castro about sex assault claim

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Starlin Castro of the Cubs is safe at third base for a one-run triple in the fourth inning against the White Sox Sunday, July 3, 2011, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Updated: January 13, 2012 4:27PM

Star Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro was questioned Friday by Chicago police about allegations of sexual assault made by a woman who says Castro attacked her three months ago, law enforcement sources said.

Castro voluntarily appeared at the Chicago Police Department’s Belmont Area detective headquarters early Friday to answer questions, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Castro was released after being interviewed and hasn’t been charged, according to the sources, who said the investigation is continuing.

Spokeswomen for the police and for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office would not comment.

Last week, a police source confirmed that detectives were investigating a criminal sexual assault complaint involving Castro, who allegedly met the woman on Sept. 29 at a River North nightclub and took her back to his apartment. The woman, in her 20s, went to a hospital the next day and police became involved.

Lawyers for the All-Star shortstop said then that the complaint against Castro was baseless.

Castro, 21, had been in his native Dominican Republic over the winter but returned to Chicago to attend the Cubs Convention, which begins Friday, according to Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer.

The Cubs issued a statement last week acknowledging they were aware of the allegations and saying the team takes the situation seriously.

“We are hopeful when the facts are brought to light, Starlin will be cleared of any wrongdoing,” the statement said.

Castro’s attorneys, Jay K. Reisinger and Michael P. Gillespie, said then: “We are aware of certain allegations that have been made against our client, Starlin Castro. We have thoroughly investigated this matter, and we are confident that these allegations are baseless. Given the sensitive nature of this matter, we cannot comment any further.”