Father of a Carmel basketball player talks to Fox59 News

Many questions but few answers still surround an alleged assault investigation at Carmel High School. Carmel police and district officials dodged several questions during a news conference Wednesday.

High school principal John Williams, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Swensson and Police Chief Mike Fogarty would only verify that a police investigation is ongoing. It all revolves around an incident that allegedly happened on the basketball team's return trip from a Terre Haute game on January 22nd.

Chief Fogarty did say criminal confinement, battery and criminal deviate conduct are possible charges, but he added the investigation could take weeks. Meanwhile, Superintendent Swensson said his concern is with students.

"It's very difficult to hear some of the rumors because they are simply fabrications but as far as that goes we think that our focus on students is really where everyone needs to be," said Dr. Jeff Swensson, Superintendent of Carmel Clay Schools.

District officials also denied that members of the basketball team were told they would be dismissed from school if they spoke with the media about the alleged assault. Not everyone is buying the Carmel administration's point of view.

Only on Fox59 News, a parent of a freshman basketball player spoke exclusively to Fox59 News. This parent did not want to be identified, and we are not releasing his name to protect the individual's privacy.

"There is a general fear, a fear for themselves a fear for their children for childen how they would be treated they fear repercussions," the parent said.

"They fear for their safety and security if they they choose to reamain in Carmel."

It took a lot of conversation to convince a father of a freshman basketball player to talk, but he like Fox59 News, wants the truth to come out. He told us he wants the three varsity players held accountable for what his son said happened to two other freshman on that bus:

"They had assaulted them in the behinds by digital insertion with their fingers, and have attempted to assault others while in the process but couldn't get to those particular students students."

Fox59 News learned three senior basketball players did get on bus but it's unclear why. Perhaps this Carmel father thinks to intentionally assault the freshman boys. The father said the seniors tried to get more than the two young players.

"There was lot commotion on back of the bus," he said.

Fox59 News: "The three senior athletes were attempting to get to several students at the same time and pull their pants down?"

Father: "Pull their pants down, yes, and I understand there was several that were attempted but that these students had tied their cords on their lower sweats as tightly as they could so their pants couldn't be pulled down."

In the news conference Wednesday, Principal John Williams denied he told freshman players not to talk to the media.

"My understanding is that is not true. He did, and also, my understanding was he had threatened suspension to those who talked on the topic," said the father.

"It is also my understanding there is strict policy that the students are not to ride on the freshman bus."

Apparently, though, that's just what three seniors did. Carmel police are continuing to investigate possible charges of battery criminal confinement and deviate conduct.

The father also told Fox59 News, one of the freshman coach's stopped practice a few days ago to talk about self defense. He reportedly told players they they needed to know how to protect themselves and that "weird things" were going on at the school and he wanted them to be safe.