An athletic trainer in Ohio has been fired after the high school where he was employed received reports of "serious allegations" that he had been grooming student-athletes.
According to Cleveland 19, University School in Hunting Valley reviewed allegations that the athletic trainer, who was working on campus as a contractor, had imposed upon students “unwanted attention, inappropriate communications, ‘grooming’ activities such as gift-giving, and the circulation of inappropriate content through texts and social media."
The school said that no criminal history was discovered in a background check of the individual, but he has been reported to the Hunting Valley Police Department and the Cuyahoga County Department of Child & Family Services.
Hunting Valley Police Chief Michael J. Cannon said the police report was just recently made, so there are no charges yet as this investigation is in its infancy.
University School shared the following statement on the matter:
Dear University School Community,
This weekend, school administrators received reports of serious allegations regarding a contractor working as an athletic trainer on our Hunting Valley Campus. Upon receipt of these reports, we immediately terminated this contractor—furnished to US by a large and highly reputable provider of such services—barred him from our campuses, and informed his employer of the reports. (As is practice, US did administer a background check; there was no criminal history.) Although the investigation is ongoing, the allegations thus far include unwanted attention, inappropriate communications, “grooming” activities such as gift-giving, and the circulation of inappropriate content through texts and social media. We have reported the matter to the Cuyahoga County Department of Child & Family Services (DCFS) and the Hunting Valley Police Department (HVPD). We are cooperating with and will continue to fully support the ongoing DCFS and HVPD investigations.
The safety, health, and well-being of our school community are paramount. To that end, if you or your sons have, or become aware of, any information you believe to be relevant, please promptly contact either me, Head of School; Krystopher Perry, Director of the Upper School and Hunting Valley Campus; DCFS; or HVPD. We are grateful to the community members who recently alerted us to this matter, allowing us to take swift action to terminate this contractor and remove him from our school, report the matter to the proper authorities for a thorough investigation, and begin to counsel the boys and families directly involved. We have extended the hours of our consulting psychologists for availability to boys and families.
Since this is an ongoing investigation, we are mindful to not to in any way interfere with the efforts of the authorities to investigate. Nevertheless, we intend to share additional information as and when appropriate.
We greatly appreciate your efforts to help us safeguard our community, always.
