ANN ARBOR, MI - Zavier Simpson’s one-game suspension last month came after he wrecked a car that belongs to athletic director Warde Manuel’s wife, according to a police report obtained by The Ann Arbor News/MLive.

The report also shows that the University of Michigan basketball star lied to officers about his name and whether he was driving when the vehicle crashed into a utility pole in Ann Arbor hours after Michigan’s loss to Illinois last month, according to the police report.

Officers found the senior point guard outside the vehicle that made contact with a pole and street sign on the corner of Hill Street and South Forest Avenue at 3:03 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, according to the report.

Simpson initially told officers his name was Jeff Jackson Simpson and that he was walking down South Forest Avenue when he noticed the crashed vehicle, Ann Arbor police said in the report acquired via Freedom of Information Act request.

When officers recognized him as the point guard for the Wolverines, they asked him why he lied about his name. Simpson told officers he didn’t want to be involved in the crash report.

Michigan basketball guard Zavier Simpson hit street pole night after Illinois game, police say

Simpson told police the car belonged to Evan Manuel. Manuel is the son of athletic director Warde Manuel, and a student manager for the basketball team.

Officers noticed Simpson stumbling when entering the car as the point guard said he was trying to retrieve proof that it was Evan Manuel’s car, the police report says.

An officer said he did not notice any odor of intoxicant on Simpson’s breath.

Officers later spoke with Chrislan Manuel, the wife of the athletic director and registered owner of the car, who spoke with Evan and relayed to police that Simpson was in fact the driver, police reported. When interviewed on Feb. 5 by an investigator, Simpson said he drove the car into a utility pole due to icy conditions, according to the police report.

Simpson told police he was the only person in the car when the accident occurred. He was issued a traffic citation for driving too fast for conditions, police said Thursday.

The team announced Simpson’s suspension Jan. 27, the day after the crash. Simpson missed the Wolverines’ Jan. 28 road game at Nebraska as a result.

Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard announced Friday, Jan. 31 that Simpson had been reinstated. Howard said he’d spoken to Warde Manuel before they made the decision.

Zavier Simpson was suspended for curfew but not crash, says Michigan coach Juwan Howard

“Warde is the athletic director,” Simpson said at the time. “So obviously if anyone on any sport gets suspended, of course he’s going to be involved and have some type of say. That’s his job to know what’s going on.”

Athletic director spokesman Kurt Svoboda said Manuel was traveling and unavailable for comment Thursday.

Simpson was reinstated for Michigan’s trip to Rutgers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Feb. 1. He said he was given the news in front of his teammates after that Friday’s practice.

Zavier Simpson speaks for first time since suspension

“This past weekend, I made some disappointing decisions which violated our team rules,” Simpson said in a statement that Friday. "I accept full responsibility and having to sit out the Nebraska game was part of that. I deserved it and fully supported coach Howard’s decision. Not being with my teammates made it a long night, however, it gave me the time to reflect.

"I know I let my coaches, teammates, and fans down as well as athletic department and community members. More importantly, I let myself and family down. They say you learn something new, or from something, every day and this is one of those times.

“I have apologized to my team and now apologize to everyone who continues to support me as well as our program. I am grateful for the opportunity to get back on the court Saturday and to represent this great university.”

Zavier Simpson reinstated, will play vs. Rutgers

Simpson declined to say what steps he needed to take with Howard or Manuel to get reinstated.

“We’re going to keep that inside the team if that’s OK with you guys,” he said.

At the Monday press conference before the Nebraska trip, Howard said the protocol for Simpson’s reinstatement was going to stay “in-house.”

“We have team rules," Howard said. "Unfortunately, he broke one of them. You have repercussions and consequences you have to pay when you break team rules.”

It remained unclear what team rule Simpson broke.

“We have addressed this situation with Zavier and continue to move forward," said Michigan basketball spokesman Tom Wywrot in a statement Thursday, Feb. 6. "We viewed his situation as an educational opportunity for him as well as the rest of the team.”

Michigan basketball reporter Andrew Kahn contributed to this report.

(Correction: The article previously stated Simpson said he was the driver the day after the Jan. 25 incident. Simpson was actually interviewed on Wednesday, Feb. 5 by Ann Arbor police, when he said he was the driver of the vehicle.. The article has been updated.)