Brigham Young University quarterback Jake Retzlaff was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a civil lawsuit filed in Salt Lake City’s 3rd District Court on Wednesday.

The woman, named in the court as Jane Doe A.G., is accusing Retzlaff of assaulting her while inside his home in November 2023 and is seeking damages for the alleged battery, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Retzlaff has not been charged with a crime as of Wednesday.

“BYU became aware today that a civil lawsuit involving Jake Retzlaff had been filed this morning,” BYU said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment.”

The woman, who lives in Salt Lake County, said she connected with Retzlaff over social media in October 2023 and went with a friend to his home on or around Nov. 22, 2023, to play video games, court documents said.

According to the lawsuit, after the friend left, the woman and Retzlaff began to kiss, and Retzlaff began escalating the situation. The plaintiff tried to deescalate the situation, “attempting to slowing things down, trying to pull away and saying ‘wait,'” court documents stated.

The plaintiff alleges when she tried to move away, Retzlaff pulled her hair and began to assault her. The lawsuit claims her reaction angered Retzlaff and he began shouting at her, so she tried to call for help, but her phone was dead.

According to the lawsuit, Retzlaff eventually fell asleep, but as the plaintiff attempted to leave, he woke up and again began forcefully kissing her. Retzlaff allegedly escalated the situation further by biting her, choking her and raping her, causing her to pass out.

Court documents state the plaintiff went to the hospital a few days later where a rape kit was administered and pictures of a cut lip and bruises around her neck and inner thighs were taken. She was reportedly connected to the Provo Police Department but the lawsuit claims she did not share Retzlaff’s name at the time out of fear he would retaliate.

At some point, the suit alleges, an officer inquired the name because there was another complaint filed against a football player and police wanted to know if it was the same person.

“At that point,” court documents said, “Jane Doe A.G. shared Retzlaff’s name, and the Provo police then encouraged her not to do anything because, as they claimed, ‘sexual assault victims never get justice.'”

However, Provo Police refutes the plaintiff’s allegation.

In a statement sent to the Daily Herald on Wednesday evening, the Provo Police Department says they’re aware of the civil suit involving the alleged activities, but they have not been served any legal filing relating to the case.

“The civil suit includes enough detail of the alleged assault for the department to identify a possible correlating case report. Our records show that on November 27, 2023, our department received a phone report from a woman with the initials A.G. who gave a similar account. She was treated with courtesy and care. The complainant in that case was given several opportunities to identify her abuser. She declined to do so, as is her right, and the case was subsequently closed,” the statement reads.

The Police Department challenged Jane Doe A.G’s claim that she was discouraged from pursuing the case against Retzlaff. Police said their victim advocates team made numerous attempts to follow up with the woman but claims that she never responded.

“We have a team of dedicated investigators and victim advocates whose sole mission is to provide justice to victims of sexual abuse. They do not send people away, warning them there is no justice for victims. Our Special Victims Unit investigations regularly result in criminal accountability for offenders. We hope the plaintiff chooses to make a statement to further the criminal investigation if desired.”

Mark D. Baute, the attorney representing Retzlaff, sent a statement to the Daily Herald on Wednesday in response to the lawsuit.

“I am counsel for Jake Retzlaff. I have met him, and he is a nice young man. He is also factually innocent, and we look forward to proving that innocence. Jake’s focus this year will be on football. We don’t try cases in the media, we will respect the process and establish Jake’s innocence through the judicial system,” Baute said.

Retzlaff is a two-year starter at quarterback at BYU and is entering his redshirt senior season.

Daily Herald staff writer Curtis Booker contributed to this story.