Clovis West battery investigation sent to DA, Fresno police say. Where the case stands
Fresno police investigators confirmed Friday that a case related to an alleged misdemeanor battery of a minor at Clovis West High School was sent to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
Fresno police Lt. Bill Dooley said he was unaware if any arrests were made related to the case. Spokespeople for Clovis Unified School District and the District Attorney’s Office could not confirm whether any arrests were made. It’s also unclear whether any criminal charges were filed in the case.
“We cannot comment on, or confirm, matters involving juveniles or the pendency of any juvenile proceedings,” said Assistant District Attorney Jerry Stanley, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office.
The incident, parts of which were captured on video and witnessed by multiple people, took place in the Clovis West locker room on Sept. 20 and was reported on Sept. 23.
Rumors about the incident circulated quickly online. It was initially reported to be a sexual assault, but police later clarified the incident was investigated as a possible misdemeanor battery.
Incidents or crimes within the Clovis Unified School District usually are handled by its police department, but Fresno Police detectives were called in to assist with the investigation. Clovis West is in the city of Fresno.
Clovis Unified officials said in a statement they asked Fresno Police Department to conduct the investigation.
“We appreciate the seriousness with which Chief (Paco) Balderrama and his officers, along with the Fresno County District Attorney treated the situation, and the support they have provided to us to ensure a thorough investigation and appropriate outcomes,” the statement read. “We will not tolerate behavior that leads anyone to feel unsafe on our campuses, and outside of the police investigation our student discipline protocols have been followed with any action appropriate to our code of ethics and zero tolerance policies would have been taken. These types of policy outcomes often result in students no longer being on our campus and/or on co-curricular teams.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 1:20 PM.