COWETA, Okla. -- It was the caption "hazing at its finest" on a Snapchat video that caused concern when the clip circulated last week.
Coweta Police launched an investigation, watching the video themselves as well as interviewing the four students involved and their families. Now officers are handing the investigation to the school, seeing no need for criminal charges.
"No alcohol involved, nothing like that. It was on school property during school hours. There wasn't anything that showed any force was used, any penetration of any kind or anything like that," Chief Mike Bell said.
The parents of the alleged victim reached out to 2 Works for You over the weekend, saying the boys were simply horse playing.
"He didn't look good in the video, it didn't. It looked like he was being hazed and he was adamant that he was the one being the funniest.. he took it the furthest - laying down there acting like he was arrested," Greg Barlow said.
Parents of the student shown in the video said they're working with the other families as they attempt to appeal suspension.
"Anytime you use the word hazing all the parents in the area really get concerned. They want to know what's going on in the schools and they have a right to. They really do," Chief Bell said.
The superintendent said in a statement that "certain behaviors that may have been perceived as acceptable in years past are not acceptable in public schools, and as such there are federal repercussions." He went on to say "federal law prevents the school from disclosing information regarding specific details on student discipline taken."
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