Six Hamilton High School football players arrested in Chandler hazing case
Mar 29, 2017, 12:36 PM | Updated: Mar 30, 2017, 11:25 am
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — Six high school football players were arrested Wednesday on several charges stemming from hazing allegations, the Chandler Police Department said.
Police said they first learned of the allegations against the Hamilton High School players last month. The crimes, which were not described in an email announcing the arrests, were allegedly committed between September 2015 and January 2017 on school grounds.
All six players — one splits time between Hamilton and Chief Hill Learning Academy — were charged with various crimes including sexual assault, kidnapping and aggravated assault.
Five of the suspects are juveniles. One is an adult.
A statement from the Chandler Police Department stated that four of the five juveniles would be booked on Wednesday night.
It is not clear how many of the players have left the school since the alleged crimes occurred.
In a statement, the Chandler Unified School District said it is cooperating with police in the investigation and cannot discuss details in the case.
Police said there are multiple victims and there may be more. Anyone with information is asked to call the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130.
Kevin McCabe, host of the AZ Preps Show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, said it is too early to tell if Hamilton will face any sanctions from the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
“They (the school district) will wait until all of the facts are in,” he said. “Then they’ll present those to the AIA. Once they’re presented to the AIA, then they’ll step back and see how they’re affected.”
Several Paradise High School football players were kicked off the team last year after a hazing incident at a camp in San Diego.
The Hamilton football program has been immensely successful. It has won seven state championships and is the alma mater of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.
“Hamilton is the barometer for high school football here, and has been for the past 20 years,” McCabe said. “They’ve built a great football program over there, a football factory, if you will.”
Hamilton has more than 3,600 students enrolled.
KTAR’s Bob McClay contributed to this report.
