Sep 28, 2006 8:43 am US/Central
AISD Investigates Teen Drinking
APD Says Investigations Stemmed From Sex Assault Reports
(CBS 11 News)
On Wednesday, Arlington Independent School District officials confirmed several Martin High School students were caught drinking and could face removal from their extra-curricular activities.
Arlington Police Department officials also said they are investigating two unrelated reports where a female student was sexually assaulted.
Veronica Sopher, AISD public information officer, said the district is investigating the underage drinking incidents.
She confirmed the students were on the football and soccer teams, cheerleaders and in class leadership positions.
Christy Gilfour, APD's media relations coordinator, said the two assault reports are from Aug. 8 and Aug. 12.
According to a police department news release: "ambulance personnel on an unrelated call noticed a naked 16-year-old female who appeared to be intoxicated in a park. They called for police assistance and learned that the victim had friends who were in the park. Officers found two other females passed out in the park, a 15-year-old, who was unclothed, and a 16-year-old, who was partially clothed. The investigation revealed that the girls were spending the night at the 15-year-old's home when they left that location with three 17-year-old males and drank alcohol in the park.
Detectives are investigating whether sexual assaults were committed. All the potential suspects and victims have been identified."
Gilfour said Arlington police also received a sexual assault report on Aug. 12.
That investigation revealed a 16-year-old girl was sexually assaulted the night before when she left a house with two 17-year-old males. The girl was bought back to the residence, the police said, and the next day the victim told her mother, who then reported it to police.
"It does appear that the victim and suspects were at a gathering with several other teenagers and there are indications that many of them were drinking alcohol," Gilfour said in the statement.
She added both incidents involved teenagers from Arlington and other cities.
Sopher said the district is currently waiting for the APD to complete its investigation and either issue citations or let things drop.
Sopher added if the police issue citations and the students have not admitted to the drinking, then the district can remove them from extra-curricular activities, which conforms to district Student Code of Conduct.
School administrators say between five and 10 are under investigation for drinking alcohol.
According to the code of conduct, "A student who admits to underage drinking will be removed from various campus activities."
If the students have admitted to the underage drinking and some they will be removed from their respective extracurricular activities, officials said.
They also will be referred for counseling.
Police officials said the investigations will continue and noted no arrests have been made.
(CBS 11 News)
Stumble It!
