|
Hazing rituals hit close to home |
|
|
|
Written by Gerald Gauthier
|
|
Friday, September 11 2009, 9:15 PM |
Goalie sticks are typically used to block shots in hockey, but they’re also being used by local teens to swat victims in painful hazing rituals, police have learned.
Lethbridge regional police are looking into at least a dozen possible cases of paddling, the term that’s been given to the ritual which involves whacking victims on the buttocks using goalie sticks with the blades cut off. So far, four cases have been confirmed in Lethbridge since early August involving victims between the ages of 14 and 16. All are boys.
“This is bullying,” said Insp. Jeff Cove, adding the notion that teens submit to such rituals willingly is false. “The consent is given under duress. It’s an assault.”
The suspects are in the same age range and in most cases know their victims. Three paddles have been seized and charges are pending against the alleged assailants.
One incident occurred in a downtown parking lot while another took place in a back alley on the northside. Victims have suffered bruises and abrasions.
In addition, investigators are looking into at least eight other possible cases of paddling.
“The more we look into it, the more it seems to be a practice out there,” said Sgt. Dwayne Smith of the community resource unit.
Unfortunately, he said, victims are often reluctant to come forward out of embarrassment or fear of reprisals.
Similar hazing rituals have also surfaced elsewhere in the province. Earlier this month, eight teens were suspended from a central Alberta high school over an alleged hazing incident involving several younger students.
The Battle River School Division suspended the teens, who attend Central High Sedgewick Public School in Sedgewick, east of Red Deer. RCMP received at least one report that violence got out of hand at a bush party in late August in the nearby town of Killam, involving duct-taping Grade 10 students to a bridge and striking them with makeshift paddles.
School officials have recommended that the teens be expelled.
Since then, there have been media reports of similar paddling incidents among high school students in Burlington, Ont.
Local police said they will investigate all such complaints and pursue charges against assailants. Anyone with information on incidents involving paddling is asked to contact police at 403-328-4444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
|
