Dennis Gave Details to Mother

The mother of suspended USC running back Hershel Dennis said Thursday that her son acknowledged that he was at the location early Monday morning where an alleged sexual assault took place but that he had done nothing wrong.

According to law enforcement sources, Dennis is the focal point of a Los Angeles Police Department investigation that may involve a member or members of the top-ranked Trojans, who begin their season against Virginia Tech on Aug. 28 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

It is not clear what role Dennis played in an alleged incident at a complex near campus where players were housed during training camp.

Dennis, a junior from Long Beach who rushed for 661 yards last season, was removed from practice on Tuesday morning by Coach Pete Carroll and has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.

Rose Teofilo, the player’s mother, has attended Trojan workouts almost daily during the last two years, but she had missed the team’s morning practice and was unaware that Carroll had removed her son.

Teofilo said she learned of the police investigation late Tuesday afternoon when she saw a news report on television that showed the Trojans at practice. Her son was asleep on the couch, but Teofilo said he awoke when she began wondering aloud about the report.

“I said, ‘What’s going on? What happened here?’ ” Teofilo said. “He just said, ‘Oh, I think they’re talking about me, Mom.’ ”

Teofilo said Dennis told her that a woman he had dated was at the housing complex a few hours after the Trojans’ evening scrimmage, and that the woman had been drinking. Teofilo said Dennis told her the woman had vomited and that he had set her down to sleep on a bed.

The investigation, which is being conducted by the Robbery-Homicide Division, Rape Special Section, began after a woman who attended the gathering at the Cardinal Gardens complex reported a sexual assault to the LAPD’s South Bureau. At least 14 people associated with the football team were present at some point during the gathering, where marijuana and alcohol were being used, law enforcement sources said.

Teofilo said that she had not spoken to Dennis -- the youngest of her five children and her only son -- since Tuesday evening but was confident he would be cleared.

“I feel strongly he’s going to be OK,” she said.

Teofilo said she tried reaching him by phone and would wait until he calls.

“I pray to God to help me, to give me the strength to go through a situation like this,” she said. “It hurts. He’s my baby and the love of my life.”