Santa Ana police investigating hazing allegations involving Mater Dei water polo
Months after allegations were made in a student lawsuit alleging a culture of hazing within the Santa Ana Mater Dei High football program, the school is facing an investigation by the Santa Ana Police Department involving allegations of hazing within the boys’ water polo program.
Sgt. Maria Lopez, spokeswoman for the Police Department, said Friday detectives from the Special Crimes Section were expected to wrap up their investigation next week. It has involved interviewing multiple people. The findings will be forwarded to the Orange County district attorney’s office to decide whether charges should be filed.
Exclusive: The parents of a former Mater Dei football player injured during initiation explain why they filed a hazing lawsuit against the school.
The school hired a law firm in December to investigate its safety practices as directed by the former school president, Walter Jenkins, following the filing of the student lawsuit in November. The new school president, Michael Brennan, said in a February statement, “This is an assessment of Mater Dei’s culture and not a further investigation of the incident.”
The school provided a statement that it requested the assistance of the police for an incident after a water polo practice.
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