Denver Schools Place 5 On Leave As Police Probe Cheerleader Abuse Charges

Four officials at East High School have been placed on administrative leave after videos surfaced showing cheerleaders being forced to do splits during a summer training session. The Denver School District's deputy general counsel was also placed on leave.

The Denver Police Department's child abuse detectives are also investigating. The videos - shot during training during the first week of June - show cheerleading coach Ozell Williams holding down girls by the shoulders - despite their pleas to stop.

Members of the cheerleading squad shot the videos and sent them to local television stations. One girl repeatedly pleads for the coach to stop. Several of the girls are shown screaming in apparent pain. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"We absolutely prohibit any practices that place our students’ physical and mental health in jeopardy," Boasberg said in a statement.

"We do not and will not allow any situation in which a student is forced to perform an activity or exercise beyond the point at which they express their desire to stop."

Besides Williams, Boasberg has placed East Principal Andy Mendelsberg, East Assistant Principal Lisa Porter, East Assistant Cheer Coach Mariah Cladis, and the district's deputy general counsel, Michael Hickman, on leave.

Boasberg said that Jason Maclin will serve as interim principal and that the district is providing additional counseling to students and families.

"With regards to certain videos, I cannot state strongly enough – as the superintendent of the school district and the father of two high school-aged daughters – that the images and actions depicted are extremely distressing and absolutely contrary to our core values as a public school community," Boasberg said.

Photo of Denver Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg courtesy Denver Schools.