Police Seek Criminal Charges After High School Basketball Brawl

Griffith police have sought criminal charges against players connected to a season-ending on-court basketball brawl in February.

The police department announced Thursday that it recommended the charges to the Lake County prosecutor’s office “after a thorough investigation and proposals for an alternative resolution were unsuccessful.”

“We have been in contact with representatives in the criminal justice system, the schools and attorneys in an effort to offer a productive and educational half-day experience for the individuals involved and are disappointed that this proposition was rejected,” Griffith Police Chief Greg Mance said in a statement. “Consequently, I reviewed and analyzed all of the evidence available and moved forward with providing the Prosecutor’s Office with the charges that fit the evidence in the case. The Prosecutor’s Office now decides whether it will move forward with the charges by filing with the court what it deems appropriate.”

In a joint statement, attorneys for both schools said they were told no charges would be brought against the student-athletes after the Feb. 7 incident.

“We were advised by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office that no charges would be brought against any of the student-athletes involved in the February 7, 2015, incident, which was communicated to the Chief of Police in Griffith,” Rhett Tauber, an attorney for Griffith High School, and Michael Jasaitis, an attorney for Hammond High School, said in a statement. “Thus, upon that reliance, any alternative proposal became moot. Therefore, we are hopeful that the recommendations brought will be examined and rejected accordingly.”

The Northwest Indiana Times reports that while police did not name the people involved or the specific charges sought, the recommendation involves juveniles from both basketball teams and an adult.

The brawl has been a source of criticism for both teams, with the Indiana High School Athletic Association canceling the remainder of their basketball seasons.

The governing body is also suspending the schools from participating in the boys state basketball tournament and directed that Sectional 17, hosted by Hammond Gavit, be reconfigured as a five-team tournament. The two schools were also told to pay a $500 forfeiture fee to each hosting school remaining on their schedules for away games.
 

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