Auburn Mountainview High football players suspended, accused of hazing

Four Auburn Mountainview High School football players are suspended — accused of extreme hazing.

Auburn Police won’t share specific details — only that five students claim they were hazed in their locker room by four of their teammates.

Those allegations have now led to the players being suspended from school for the remainder of the season.

Auburn police spokesperson Kolby Crossley said there could be criminal charges.

“After we did a little bit of an investigation and speaking to people there and people involved, we did determine that there was an incident worth looking into,” Crossley said.

FOX 13 News spoke with parents who said upperclassmen were accused of holding down some of the younger students in a locker room when the alleged assaults occurred. They believe the actions of the students go beyond “rough play.”

A mother and father said their 15-year-old son was held down in a locker room stall, while “someone climbed on top of him in a way that their private parts were touching.” (The station agreed not to use the family’s names to protect their privacy so they could share their concerns about what they say happened at the school.)

“We are here because our child was a victim of this,” the student’s father said to FOX 13.

Auburn Mountainview Senior High Principal Terri Herren sent a letter, obtained by KIRO 7, out to parents about the incident:

“Last Thursday, we were informed of hazing activities among our football players in the locker rooms. As soon as we were made aware of the situation, we began an investigation,” the beginning of the letter says. “In response to the incident, we took swift action by suspending multiple players from school and from football for the remainder of the season.”

Herren went on to say the school has spent this week “thoroughly investigating this matter and the investigation is ongoing.” She stated the Auburn Police Department also is investigating.

“We take this issue very seriously and are deeply concerned about the impacted students. Identified students who have been impacted will be offered a variety of supports,” the letter reads.

Herren’s letter also states teachers read a statement to students during the school day earlier this week. The following is a portion of the statement.

“We would like to address the importance of refraining from discussing the harassment and hazing incidents that occurred in the football locker room. Creating a safe and supportive learning environment is our top priority. By avoiding discussions about harassment and hazing, we can ensure that all students feel respected and comfortable in the classroom. It is essential to be mindful of the potential impact our words can have on others. Talking about such sensitive topics can potentially trigger negative emotions and memories for individuals who have had past traumatic experiences.”

The statement teachers read also encouraged students affected by the incident to reach out to a trusted adult as “they are here to provide guidance and assistance during difficult times.”

Toward the end of the letter, Herren noted that due to the lack of eligible athletes, the last game of the season has been canceled.

“We remain dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all of our students,” the letter’s conclusion reads.

The Auburn District also sent KIRO 7 a response to the hazing incident reiterating points Herren wrote in her letter.

“Student safety is our highest priority. It was brought to the attention of school staff late Thursday that students on the football team had been involved in hazing,” the statement began.

The district also told KIRO 7 that there are several victims and we will be providing a variety of support to them.”

As the Auburn Examiner explained this week, a separate email was sent to football parents on Oct. 23. In that correspondence, Herren, Athletic Director Chris Carr, and Head Coach Kent Rodseth said the school is committed to thoroughly investigating the incident and that they welcome any information or input from the players involved.

The note to parents also explained that the school went on to implement additional measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its athletes. Those steps included, “requiring coaches to be present in the locker room at all times and requiring all athletes in the football program to complete a leadership and a bullying, harassment, and hazing program with NFHS.”

Auburn Police are also investigating another incident at Auburn Riverside High School after a group of masked kids snuck into the high school and punched and shoved several students in the hallway. Police say three of the masked students have been identified and have not been arrested.

Auburn Police say while these incidents are concerning, they hope to bring answers and justice for all of those hurt or impacted.

“But you know, we are here to hopefully bring justice to this situation,” Crossley said.

Contributing: KIRO 7; Steve Coogan and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest