An investigation is underway into allegations of hazing involving some high school football players. Disciplinary action has already been taken against some upper classmen.
Four Loudonville High School students have been kicked off the football team permanently and suspended from school for five days following a police and school investigation into hazing allegations involving members of the freshman team. The Superintendent of the Loudonville School District says the alleged incident occured in August before school started.
Police notified the school district that they’d received an anonymous complaint on Tuesday. An investigation was immediately launched by police and the school district. All freshman football players were interviewed to find out if the hazing allegations were true. Investigators say there is more than one victim. Loudonville Police Chief Scott Shoudt says “hitting is what we were told but I can’t say what specific hitting or how it was done until the county prosecutor reviews it”.
The Superintendent says the allegations stem from the two-a-day football practices of the freshman football team.
The high school Principal, Ben Blubaugh, says what the upper classmen did to the freshman football players “crossed the line”. The Superintendent tells FOX 8, “We’re sending a message here that if we get reports that anything like this, it’s going to be dealt with and it’s going to be dealt with swiftly”.
Once police wrap up their investigation they’ll turn their information over to the Ashland County prosecutor who will decide whether criminal charges will be filed.
