Police report: Alleged Football thieves “did it for the rush”

By Kristi Lambert

Three Logan High School football players turned themselves in to LHS security officer Mike Russell on Tuesday, admitting to a theft that occurred during a sophomore football game on Oct. 13.

According to the police report filed by Russell, the senior boys admitted to entering the team locker room and taking an iPod Touch, three iPhones and $2 from a teammate’s locked locker, which they opened with a key. It is not clear from the report how they obtained the keys to the locker room and lockers. The iPod Touch and one of the iPhones were destroyed. The other two iPhones were returned to their owners.

“All three explained…they did it for the rush and nothing more,” Russell said in the police report.

The boys’ parents were contacted Tuesday after they turned themselves in to Russell. The school decided to suspend the boys for the remainder of the day. School administrators have not yet decided what will be the consequences for the boys. 

“Before I left, all the boys stated they would try and make things right with the victims,” Russell said in the police report.

“People are like, 'What the heck?'" said senior Ashley Littell, captain of the varsity volleyball team. "We expected more out of these boys and we’re a little disappointed that they'd do something this stupid.” 

“It seems like you hear things like this all the time. My friend had her iPhone stolen last year in class and no one really did anything about it. And I know a couple of stories like this,” Littell said. “So I'd say this wasn't out of the norm really because people are always taking things.”

On Wednesday it was decided that two of the boys — both under 18 and not named by police — would be referred to juvenile court for theft. The third student, Darian Daniels, 18, will be cited for theft. The full consequences have yet to be determined, but the question of whether they will be able to participate in the first-round state playoff game against Herriman on Saturday has been settled.

  

According to Logan City School District Superintendent Marshal Garrett, administrators decided Thursday afternoon that all three starting senior football players will be suspended from playing the entire game.

With or without his three teammates, senior cornerback Johnny Luke believes the team will still play well come Saturday.

“We get prepared mentally and physically,” said Luke. “I think we’re going to be fine. The team isn’t made up of only three people. None of us are really worried about what happened. We’re not going to fall apart and let it set us back.”

The undefeated Grizzlies will go head to head with the Herriman Mustangs, who have eight wins and three losses.

“We don’t take things lightly,” Luke said. “We are ready to play and show everyone we are a legit team and that not one little incident will slow us down. We’re just really excited.”

(A. Davis)

Grizzly football players under investigation, fellow students react

By Kristi Lambert

The Logan High School football team, the top seed going into the first round of the Utah state 4A football playoffs on Saturday, will enter the game against Herriman with an overall record of 10 wins, no losses — and one ongoing investigation.

Police confirmed Wednesday morning that there is an active investigation underway at LHS involving allegations of illegal actions on the part of a number of players on the football team. Saying the matter was “still under investigation and active — therefore, not releasable for a bit,” Logan City Police Department public records clerk Kirsti Kjome declined to provide specifics about the case early Wednesday until Jeff Curtis, the Assistant Chief returns.  

Mike Russell, LHS’s security officer, declined to comment until the police report is filed. “It is still under investigation at this time and we don’t have any information to give out,” said Nicky Kimball, a secretary for LHS. And Mike Favero, Logan’s head coach, was also unwilling to give out any information.

However, police officials have promised to provide information regarding this case on Friday.

But LHS students aren’t waiting to talk.

“Word spreads like wildfire here.” said Ashley Littell, a senior and Varsity Captain of the volleyball team.

Littell and others students said that the hearsay going around the school was that three players from the football team had allegedly broken into the boys’ locker room and stole iPhones and iPods during a sophomore football game. Littell estimated that the theft occurred about a week and half ago.

“People think that there’s like an 80 percent chance that they’ll get kicked off the team,” Littell said.

“It sucks because we are seat number one in 4A,” said Sammy Parkinson, a sophomore. “And State is this Saturday.”

But KSL.com was reporting late Wednesday that teammates believed the accused players will only be benched for a quarter of the game against Herriman.

The police department and school administrators have neither confirmed nor denied any of these rumors.

(M. LaPlante & A. Davis)

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