School Football Players Cited Over Amish 'Harassment' Claims
Several high school football players have been cited for disorderly conduct following reports of harassing behavior towards members of the Amish community.
Nine juveniles from the Reedsburg area of Wisconsin were involved, Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said in a news release on Sunday.
Meister said deputies and been conducting an extra patrol in the rural Reedsburg area after "multiple reports of harassment towards members of the Amish community."
"Contact was made with a suspect vehicle involved," Meister said. "As a result of the investigation, nine juveniles from the Reedsburg area were cited for disorderly conduct.
Such citations carry forfeiture amounts of $213.10, Meister told local news station KWOW.
Meister also told News 8 Now that some of the juveniles cited are on the Reedsburg Area High School football team, though he did not specify how many.
Newsweek has contacted the sheriff's office for comment via social media. The principal of Reedsburg High School and a spokesperson for Reedsburg Area School District have been contacted for comment via email.
It comes days after the Reedsburg Area High School announced that the first two varsity football games of the year would be canceled due to an ongoing investigation involving several players. Meister confirmed that the investigation is about the August 11 incident that led to the citations for disorderly conduct.
The school gave few details about the investigation, saying only that it was "into a matter in the community" and that the varsity team was left without enough players.
"Due to confidentiality concerns with any issue involving students there is nothing further that can be shared with you about this matter," the news release said .
In multiple posts on social media, it was alleged that the students were cited after vandalizing property owned by the Amish community, including a school and a barn. Many social media users called for those involved to face hate crime charges and to be banned from playing football all season.
In a statement to Wisconsin Public Radio , school principal Katie Mathews said she is "devastated that many of the student athletes will be missing out on contests."
Matthews said: "In particular, we empathize with our seniors who will be facing a shortened season.
"However, above all, we are a teaching and learning institution. While this, without question, is a painful learning experience, we will never compromise the integrity of the Reedsburg Area High School or its students, staff and families, and we will not let it define us."
