DENVER – Denver police are investigating an incident involving cheerleaders and a cheer coach at a local high school after video surfaced showing questionable training practices by the coach.
There are eight videos in total. One video shows girls being forcibly pushed into extended split positions while their arms are held up by fellow teammates, making them unable to move out of the position. One cheerleader is seen crying in pain and asking the coach nine times to "please, stop."
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According to KUSA, the cheer coach, assistant cheer coach, high school principal, assistant principal and Denver Public Schools Deputy Counsel have all been placed on leave.
The cheer coach, Ozell Williams, was recently hired. This would have been his first year coaching for the team.
The incidents shown in at least one of the videos occurred at a cheer camp in June. Parents of the cheerleaders have reportedly been launching complaints towards the school administrators and the coach for months.
Denver police launched their investigation on Wednesday.