Ravens’ Security Director is accused of groping a woman and pressing up against her at the team's stadium after a December game, according to police and court documents. Charging documents filed in Baltimore City District Court said 48-year-old Darren Sanders is also accused of kissing the 34-year-old woman's neck and attempting to force her to grab his genitals. Ravens senior vice president Kevin Byrne said Wednesday that Sanders has been placed on paid leave, per the NFL's personal conduct policy. He isn't with the team and won't travel to Pittsburgh for the Ravens' playoff game Saturday night.
Sanders' lawyers say he denies the allegations. He had a role in the domestic violence case involving former Ravens running back Ray Rice, who is pursuing a grievance against the team over his release for hitting his then-fiancee in a casino elevator in Atlantic City. Sanders launched the team's investigation of the incident, and Rice's grievance centers on how much the Ravens knew about the situation while the team decided how to punish the player. Rice is seeking to recoup back pay beyond his initial two-game suspension. A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press the grievance hearing will be held Jan. 15 and 16. The person spoke to the AP on Wednesday night on condition of anonymity because the dates haven't been announced.
The woman worked in security at M&T Bank Stadium and was asked to escort Sanders to his vehicle outside the stadium the same day the Ravens beat the Jaguars on Dec. 14, court and police documents said. Police were called and interviewed the woman several hours after the game ended. A police incident report said the woman said Sanders made several comments to her while they walked together, that he'd seen here around and she "looked very pretty." The woman said he then grabbed her breasts and touched her buttocks, the report said. "He hit and/or groped her buttocks more than once as they walked down the third level hallway," the woman told Baltimore police Sgt. Kerry Snead, who outlined the accusations in court documents. The documents said after the grabbing and other advances, the woman told Sanders to get away from her and walked away, then told several co-workers what had happened. A witness also saw part of their interaction, the documents said. A hearing is set for Feb. 9.
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