WARSAW, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Wyoming County DA has charged two Warsaw High School wrestlers in connection with an alleged locker room hazing that broke the jaw of a teammate.
We've been following this story since word of the incident first surfaced. Now, 12 days of investigation and nearly 30 interviews later, police have found enough evidence to charge two wrestlers with hazing and bullying.
Word about the incident spread quickly throughout the high school. Tyler Crandall attends Warsaw High School and is friends with one of the teens accused of leading the attack against his teammate.
"He told it just as it is. It was just two kids who, they hit each other. He was just there in the team room at the time. Now he's being charged with hazing," said Crandall.
The Wyoming County District Attorney filed the charges earlier this week. Police say the two students, ages 16- and 17-years-old, bullied two others into fighting. One of the blows in the ensuing brawl broke the jaw of a 15-year-old wrestler.
Warsaw Assistant Police Chief Sean Heubusch says the assault happened in a team room with no supervision. You can get the full details on the incident here in the report from the Warsaw DA.
"I was outraged to see that this took place in a team atmosphere where these guys say they're a family," said Asst. Chief Heubusch.
According to the Wyoming County DA, Crandall's friend reportedly walked out of the team room with another wrestler laughing about the assault, and never offered to help the bleeding and badly injured wrestler.
Asst. Chief Heubusch said, "There was a physical altercation that took place. It was graphic, it was a graphic depiction."
Cell phone video obtained by police shows the first punch. Through their investigation, Warsaw Police say video of the other punches, including the punch that broke the victim's jaw, was intentionally deleted by one of the accused to make it seem as though the victim was at fault. That wrestler has also been charged with tampering with evidence.
Still, Crandall is defending his friend.
"He's very straightforward. He wouldn't lie about something. If that's the way it happened, that's the way it happened," said Crandall.
The wrestling coach, Rob Hirsch, has been placed on unpaid suspension for 30days. News 4 spokes to Hirsch, who said at this point, he does not have permission to speak to the media. However, he assured us once he can, he looks forward to clearing his name.
The two wrestlers return to court in January 9th.
