Hazing 'Will Never Be Tolerated': District 202 Issues Statement

Plainfield IL

24 August, 2021

6:35 PM

Description

PLAINFIELD, IL — A day after news broke of a hazing lawsuit filed by parents of former Plainfield Central High School football players, District 202 Superintendent Lane Abrell said in a statement that "this alleged behavior was not then and will never be tolerated in District 202." Beyond that, Abrell said officials can't comment on pending litigation but discussed police findings from an earlier investigation into the Oct. 17, 2019, incident. A hazing ritual known as "Code Blue" occurred in October 2019 when two boys were pinned to the ground and assaulted with a broomstick by fellow football players, according to the civil suit filed Monday. Abrell said that at the time of the incident, the school and district administration worked with Plainfield police and that the police investigation determined the behavior "did not meet the legal standard for 'hazing.'" According to Abrell, police also found that "there was no evidence of a sexual crime" and no bodily harm occurred. RELATED: 'Widespread' Sexual Assault, Hazing Was Known To Coaches: Suit "Following this incident, District administration also reviewed and strengthened safety policies, practices and procedures to ensure student safety in our schools and facilities at all times," Abrell wrote. Police charged four student-athletes with misdemeanor battery charges following the incident in 2019, and "other appropriate student discipline was also imposed," Abrell said, adding that district officials can't comment on specifics. Two then-freshmen involved in the lawsuit, identified in the suit as Doe Child A and Doe Child B, have since transferred schools, Attorney Bhavani Raveendran confirmed Monday. "District 202 remains committed to doing everything possible to protect our students and staff," Abrell said. (For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Plainfield Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!)