The Memphis Grizzlies announced Tuesday that they have parted ways with announcer Rick Trotter, the same day that police issued a warrant for his arrest on charges that he photographed someone without their consent.
Memphis police confirmed that their department issued the warrant Tuesday; Trotter, 40, had not been taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.
Trotter was an independent contractor with the Grizzlies, officials said. Although the announcement of his release was just made Tuesday, team officials said he was let go last month.
“Rick Trotter is no longer affiliated with the Grizzlies organization. We have no further comment on the matter,” the Grizzlies said in a statement.
What exactly Trotter is alleged to have done remains unknown, but a statement released Tuesday by his former church provided some clues.
“We, the elders of Downtown Church, are deeply saddened to announce that, effective May 27, Rick Trotter was terminated as an employee of Downtown Church. This was the result of deception and moral failures of a sexual nature. As you can imagine, this revelation has been deeply devastating to all of us. We, as elders, have come around his wife and children offering spiritual, emotional and financial support. We will continue to support and encourage them, and we know the Downtown Church family will follow suit. We have responded swiftly as information has emerged, with counsel from trusted professionals. As we move forward in this process, we want the congregation to know we are fully committed to operating with integrity and transparency.”
Trotter was hired in 2006 to replace John Paul Stevenson, who left to move close to his family in Houston.
Trotter had no previous experience before he was hired. He recorded a CD and sent it in to the Grizzlies, then was hired about three weeks later.
Before that, he was managing a Chick-fil-A in Atlanta but moved to Memphis to work with his church.