El Cerrito police expect to make 'multiple arrests' over HS football hazing

El Cerrito High School in El Cerrito, Calif. (Google Street View) El Cerrito police said Thursday they expect to make "multiple arrests" following an investigation into two years of alleged hazing in the city's high school football program.The El Cerrito Police Department said in a news release that it had received a report of alleged bullying and hazing at El Cerrito High School on Oct. 2. Through its subsequent investigation, which included interviews with witnesses and school staff and the discovery of video evidence, the department said it had identified 22 current and former students who are suspected of committing "battery, sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, dissuading a victim, conspiracy, and stalking." The abuse had occurred between September 2024 and October 2026, the department said in the release. The investigation remains active, and detectives continue to evaluate evidence.In response to the allegations, the West Contra Costa Unified School District suspended the Gauchos football program for the rest of the 2026 season. The school district also said it is conducting its own investigation under Title IX."No child should ever experience what our students have described," said WCCUSD Superintendent Cheryl Cotton said in a statement. "While we have worked to focus on accountability for the actions of individual players up until this point, new information has led to new decisions. We must now make the very tough call to immediately suspend the El Cerrito High football program in order to prevent any further harm and restore a safe learning environment for our students."El Cerrito police Capt. Lauren Caputo declined to offer further details in a phone call with SFGATE on Thursday morning, saying that because the investigation involved juvenile victims, he was prohibited from discussing the case further. It's the latest in an eventful few years for the El Cerrito football team. In 2024, it forfeited six games for using ineligible players, which ultimately led to head coach Jacob Rincon's ouster. Last year, under new head coach Tim Johnson, the Gauchos won a California International Federation state championship in the sport, going 13-2 and taking home the school's first state title. The Gauchos had gone 6-3 in the 2026 season so far and had their season finale scheduled for Friday night at De Anza High School in El Sobrante before the start of the North Coast Section playoffs next week. More News- Here's how every California county voted on Proposition 40- Man allegedly used secret shoe cameras near UC Berkeley- Calif. college students severely injured in Spain train crash that killed 69- Satellite shows ocean phenomenon traveling north on Calif. coastGet breaking news sent straight to your inbox.This article originally published at El Cerrito police expect to make 'multiple arrests' over HS football hazing.