A widening hazing scandal in a small Central Valley city has led to the arrest of four Dos Palos High School football players, with possibly more to come in the days ahead.
Authorities have not divulged much information about the investigation, saying only that it is “very serious.” When the allegations behind it come out, police say it will shock the entire town.
“When some of these details become public, I think there’s going to be a healing process needed for the whole community,” said Police Chief Barry Mann.
“It appears to be hazing, but there is more investigation going on. Police and school administrators are trying to really get a scope of what occurred,” explained Bill Spalding, Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified superintendent.
The players have been charged in juvenile court with misdemeanor hazing and felony false imprisonment, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed. Authorities would not say whether the allegations involved any criminal sexual activity against the victim, who has been identified only as a 14-year-old boy.
Dos Palos is a small community located about 28 miles southwest of Merced. There are 685 students at the local high school.
Read more about the investigation here.