SOUTHGATE, Mich. An African American owned company that runs a suburban Detroit nursing home has suspended a number of its black workers after a resident claimed she was sexually assaulted by a black man.

Reginald Hartsfield of Southfield-based Advantage Management Group told The Detroit News  that nursing home rules dictated the suspensions with pay for the Southgate Manor workers as police investigate.

"We have to do a thorough investigation, and when there's an allegation … you have to follow the regulations," said Reginald Hartsfield of Southfield-based Advantage Management Group. "Anybody that could have come in contact with that resident we have to suspend with pay until we complete the investigation."

Hartsfield said he did not know how many men were suspended. The attack allegedly happened Monday at the facility on Trenton Road.

Authorities say they're working with the vague suspect description provided of a black male. Hartsfield says workers are expected to be brought back as the investigation moves forward.

Larry Dubin, a law professor at the University of Detroit Mercy, says the action might appear to be discriminatory but looks to be reasonable considering the circumstances.

"If their suspension with pay of certain employees is to facilitate a police investigation without in any way making false accusations about any of their employees, they would be acting in a reasonable manner," said Larry Dubin, a law professor at the University of Detroit Mercy.