No criminal charges

The Walhalla police have decided there will be no criminal charges in the hazing incident on a bus carrying Razorback soccer players home from a game in Pickens. Chief Ronald Wilbanks said his department has accepted a recommendation from the 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office that, based on the statements gathered in the investigation, criminal charges are not appropriate. However, Wilbanks left open the possibility that some of the students involved might face explusion. Dr. Michael Thorsland, county superintendent, has said five players were suspended, and Wilbanks said the district had scheduled expulsion hearings this morning for some of those involved in what happened. In an earlier statement, Thorsland said, “It has been determined that there was hazing.” But today Wilbanks carefully chose his words to describe the incident. He used the word “horseplay” and added, “There have been some lessons learned here, from the coaches on down to the students on what is expected of them and how they should behave whether on a bus ride or at any other school activity.”