Fontana teacher, 4 students arrested in possible hazing incident
Four students and a teacher were arrested in connection with an alleged in-classroom hazing incident at a Fontana high school, police said Sunday.
Fontana police were contacted by district officials Friday about a “possible hazing incident that involved the physical assault of at least one student” at A.B. Miller High School, according to a police statement. Officials have not released details of the alleged assault, citing an ongoing investigation.
Police did say they believe the incident involved students in a summer school class that began May 31, and that a teacher, identified as 27-year-old Emmanuel De La Rosa “facilitated some students to carry out the hazing to limit behavioral problems within the classroom.”
De La Rosa “may have directed students to assault another student,” police said. It was unclear if De La Rosa had encouraged similar actions in previous classes.
After interviewing students in the class, detectives identified four who “actively participated in the assaults,” police said.
The four students — one 18-year-old and three juveniles — were arrested Saturday night on suspicion of child endangerment and other alleged circumstances relating to the assaults, police said. De La Rosa was also arrested on suspicion of child cruelty.
All three of the victims were male juveniles whose injuries were minor and did not require hospitalization, said Fontana police Sgt. Robert Morris.
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