Four Chandler students were arrested in connection with a hazing case Wednesday, according to police.
TRENDING STORIES:
-PHOTOS: 75 MCSO mug shots of the week
-Phoenix police arrest couple for buying $10,000 sniper rifle to give to Mexican cartel
-23 AZ restaurants featured on ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’
Sgt. Daniel Mejia with the Chandler Police Department said Wednesday that five Hamilton High School students and one Chief Hill Learning Academy student that also attended Hamilton High were identified after an investigation that started in February.
Police say hazing crimes are believed to have happened on school grounds, involving members of the Hamilton High football team. They reportedly occurred between Sept. 2015 and Jan. 2017.
Four of the six people were booked Wednesday night, according to Chandler police. All four were under the age of 18. The adult in question, and the fifth student, have both been released at this time.
The four in custody are being charged with sexual assault, sexual molestation, kidnapping and aggravated assault.
Hamilton High is sending home the following letter related to the hazing arrests made on campus today. LATEST: https://t.co/TlOPNVIFg5 pic.twitter.com/MUpjAhHDUm
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) March 29, 2017
Police have interviewed coaches at Hamilton High about the incidents, but they have not been charged with anything.
Hamilton High Football Captain Ladimor Hurvey said he was shocked to learn of the incident.
"Literally, I've haven't seen any of that," Hurvey said. "I know that the lower classes, from 2018 and 2019, had gone through problems years before."
Hurvey said the incident is giving Hamilton High a bad reputation.
"It's putting a bad name on the school, obviously," Hurvey said. "I just wanted to say that it wasn't everybody...it was a group of bad seeds."
Police say they’re still investigating, and there could still be more suspects and victims in the case.
The Chandler Unified School District released the following statement related to the incident:
"We were notified in February about allegations of hazing. We have been cooperating with Chandler Police. Today, the police arrested six students in association with the investigation. We don't have further details. Because this is an ongoing investigation, we have been instructed to defer all questions to the Chandler Police."
More victims may also exist, so police are asking anyone with information to come forward. If you know anything, contact police at 480-782-4130.
