49ers cut Ray McDonald in wake of sexual assault investigation

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers released Ray McDonald on Wednesday after police announced that the veteran defensive tackle is the suspect in a sexual assault investigation.

General manager Trent Baalke said the 49ers notified McDonald and his agent that his contract was terminated.

“Ray has demonstrated a pattern of poor decision-making that is no longer going to be tolerated,” Baalke said in a statement.

According to an email from the San Jose Police Department, officers responded to a call Tuesday from a local hospital regarding a possible sexual assault victim who was receiving treatment and who said she was assaulted the previous day.

After a preliminary investigation revealed McDonald as the alleged suspect, police served a search warrant on the player’s San Jose home.

Police said McDonald has not been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

The 49ers stuck with McDonald after he was arrested in August on charges of domestic violence, which were dropped on Nov. 10 due to insufficient evidence. The team, despite some criticism, allowed McDonald to continue playing during the investigation.

A law-enforcement source told the San Jose Mercury News the alleged victim in the sexual assault investigation is not McDonald’s fiancee, who was the reporting party in an earlier domestic violence case.

McDonald, who has spent all eight of his pro seasons with San Francisco, compiled 39 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble over 14 starts for the 49ers this season. He signed a five-year deal with the team in July 2011.