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UPDATE:
On Carmel's Senior Night sixteen young men and women were supposed to be honored and five of them were supposed to be varsity boys basketball players.
Instead only one player took that walk of honor with his parents. That was #12 Alex Payne. The introductions came before Carmel's final home game of the year versus Brebeuf Jesuit.
Brebeuf students told FOX 59 News their principal warned them earlier in the day to not taunt the opposing fans or players.
"They basically told us we weren't supposed to do anything so we can't pull any shenanigans," Brebeuf senior Jack Bayt said.
Before the game underclassmen sitting in the Carmel section boo'd the gathering of news cameras here to tell the story of how the Carmel High School community is moving forward while four senior players have been disciplined and sidelined .
The players are allegedly linked to at least two assaults on underclassmen one on a team bus after a game January 22nd and the other reportedly came January 8th inside a Carmel High School locker room.
Carmel police are said to have five investigators working on the case.
Brebeuf parent Kelly French was worried some of the students might disrespect their opponents in the stands.
"It's the saddest story I have ever heard. I am shocked and I know this is going to make headline news around the United States. This is bad," French said.
The game went final with no problems in the stands, but what remained after the contest was the feeling of what could come later if felony charges are eventually filed in the assault cases.
PREVIOUS STORY:
The City of Carmel released a press release Friday evening regarding the investigation into alleged assaults involving the Carmel High School basketball team.
Below is the press release:
The City of Carmel and Carmel Police Department wish to assure the community that they are working diligently to properly investigate the allegations involving Carmel High School students. This investigation is being taken very seriously and the Police Department is doing everything possible to protect the rights of the child victims involved.
Michael Fogarty, Carmel's Chief of Police, today announced that five investigators have been assigned to investigate the matter. These investigators are in the process of interviewing more than 60 potential witnesses. Fogarty emphasized that the allegations are serious and cautioned that the department's investigation will be thorough and careful.
"This situation is being handled with the utmost care and attention. It is more complicated than a typical investigation because it involves minors. The Carmel Police Department is working to ensure that no mistakes are made, caused by haste or pressure from the media for premature disclosure of facts, that could jeopardize a conviction," said Mayor Jim Brainard.
Fogarty added that we have all read of cases being dismissed or overturned by courts because of procedural mistakes made during the investigation.
Brainard said that the Carmel police are well trained and that they are taking great care to ensure not only that the children who are the victims are protected but that no mistakes are made that could jeopardize a later conviction.
It is important to note that the Carmel Police investigation is a criminal investigation and is separate and distinct from the investigation being conducted by Carmel High School officials.
PREVIOUS STORY:
Carmel's City Attorney released a new, heavily redacted police report from an alleged incident on January 8th. This report comes following the alleged assaults, on a freshman school bus, on January 22nd.
This new report, which clearly implies sexual accusations, concerns a separate incident that occurred on January 8th in the boys locker room. The possible charges being investigated include: criminal deviate conduct, sexual battery with the use of force or threat, and criminal confinement.
In the report, a detective says he met with school administration about additional incidents that occurred. He also told school administrators that the victim had indicated that there were ongoing issues in the locker rooms at Carmel High School. Police also alerted the Department of Child Services. DCS told Fox59 News previously they are conducting two investigations of their own.
As Fox59 first reported Thursday, a fourth senior was suspended from the team, because of an alleged incident in the locker room. Friday night is senior night for Carmel High School's basketball team, and four of the five seniors are now off the team.
Fox59's Gene Cox reported on Fox59 News: First at Four, the atmosphere in the gymnasism was tense. JV and Varsity will play Brebeuf Jesuit. Brebeuf officials tell Fox59 they spoke to students Friday afternoon, instructing them to act appropriately when supporting the team at Friday night's game.