In an exclusive report published Wednesday by NJ Advance Media, a parent reveals details of "pervasive and wide-scale harassment" and "lewd" behavior that allegedly took place in the locker room at Sayreville War Memorial High School, prompting district officials to cancel the remainder of the storied football team's 2014 season.

Scoreboard at Sayreville High School
Scoreboard at Sayreville High School (Dino Flammia, Townsquare Media NJ)
loading...

The disturbing allegations provide details about the incident, which led to a criminal investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as local police.

The parent who spoke to NJ Advance media said that the hazing took place nearly every day in the locker room. It began with a "howling" noise from an upperclass member of the football team, which led to the lights abruptly being turned off.

"In the darkness, a freshman football player would be pinned to the locker-room floor, his arms and feet held down by multiple upperclassmen," NJ Advance Media reported. "Then, the victim would be lifted to his feet while a finger was forced into his rectum. Sometimes, the same finger was then shoved into the freshman player’s mouth."

In the article, the parent of one of the football players who witnessed the ongoing "harassment" was the first to come forward with details. The parent, whose identity was kept private, also said the other students who were present would "just sit around and witness [stuff] like this.”

Allegations that members of the football team were subjected to hazing of a lewd and sexual nature are still under investigated by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, according to a report in Sports Illustrated.

Quoting sources, “including one close to the investigation,” a story posted on the magazine’s homepage says prosecutors are “looking into whether upperclassmen on the Sayreville football team digitally penetrated underclassmen on the team.”

Prosecutors have thus far declined to discuss any details of their investigation.

In a recent audio recording of Monday’s meeting at Sayreville War Memorial High School, district officials say they were not aware of the incidents of alleged bullying, intimidation and harassment within the high school football program. The audio recording was obtained by NJ Advance Media of remarks made by Superintendent of Schools Rich Labbe at the contentious, parents-only meeting where he announced the cancellation of the school’s remaining football season.

The recording, taken by someone who was present at the meeting, reveals information about when school district administrators were told about the alleged hazing as well as the district's plans to carry out an internal investigation "and the disconnect between parents and administrators over the district’s anti-bullying policies.”

In the wake of the allegations and the meeting canceling the remainder of the season, Superintendent of Schools Rich Labbe said the entire school community is being treated as a victim. He said the local police department is adding an additional school resource officer in order to ensure the safety of all students. Guidance and crisis counselors as well as social workers and psychologists will also be made available to the school community.

Dino Flammia and Dan Alexander contributed to this report.

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM