The Douglas County and Wilkin County Sheriff’s Offices are investigating allegations of an incident on a Rogers High School boys basketball team bus that was returning from a game in northwest Minnesota in late February.
“We have been made aware of potentially inappropriate behavior that occurred on the 9th/10th grade bus to and/or from Moorhead on Friday. Our administrative team, in collaboration with district staff, is actively investigating the situation and has been speaking with a number of students,” Dan Ohlgren, the Rogers High School activities director, wrote in a March 2 email to players’ families that was provided to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out on Wednesday morning to Independent School District 728 Superintendent Andy Almos about allegations of “hazing” and “inappropriate behavior” on the team bus.
“The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority and we take allegations like the one you described very seriously,” Almos wrote in an email. “All such matters are investigated thoroughly, and if appropriate, consequences are aligned with applicable school district policy and the law. We cannot comment on confidential matters involving staff and students.”
Rogers police confirmed that a parent had filed a report with their agency, and they then notified the Douglas County and Wilkin County Sheriff’s Offices to investigate where the alleged incident may have occurred.
A family member of a player told KSTP they are not pleased with how the district has handled the situation.
On Wednesday, Rogers police confirmed they first received that report on March 2 but said, “Due to the nature of the incidents and the involvement of minors, no additional information will be released at this time,” instead pointing to the investigative agencies.
Through a public records request, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS obtained a one-page incident report from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, dated March 9.
The report indicates that the Rogers Police Department reached out to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to assist “with an investigation for an incident on a bus that was traveling through Douglas County” on Interstate 94.
The Douglas County Attorney’s Office told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that law enforcement had not yet, as of Wednesday afternoon, turned any report over to their office for review.
“The matter is an active investigation,” Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Records Supervisor Lacey Grinager wrote in an email to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. “We are unable to release additional information at this time.”
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has filed a public records request with the Wilkin County Sheriff’s Office for the incident report; that request hasn’t yet been fulfilled. However, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday that its investigation “is not yet complete.”
This is a developing story. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS continues to dig into this incident and will provide further updates as we confirm more details.
For Related Stories: Douglas County Investigation Rogers Wilkin County