YOUNGSTOWN — A city spokesman has confirmed that the Youngstown Police Department is investigating allegations that Ursuline High School football players hazed and sexually assaulted a fellow football player on the football team’s summer trip through several southern states.

Spokesman Andy Resnick said Wednesday in response to a newspaper inquiry, “We can confirm that YPD is actively investigating these allegations. However, due to the complexity of the matter and the involvement of minors, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

When he was asked when the matter was reported to Youngstown police, Resnick declined to comment further. An initial police report is generally available upon request and it will generally contain the date the report was taken.

The newspaper then made a public records request for a copy of any initial police report in the police department’s possession detailing the allegations of hazing and of a second complaint of harassment by an Ursuline football player of a female Ursuline student.

Senior Assistant Youngstown Law Director Jason Small later responded with the following statement: “As the matter continues to be investigated, public records are not subject to disclosure at this time.”

The issue of Youngstown police investigating allegations of Ursuline football player misconduct was mentioned by the Rev. Richard Murphy, president of Ursuline’s Board of Directors, after the second of two lawsuits was filed against Ursuline over allegations against football players within a week of each other earlier this month.

Murphy’s letter, addressed to Ursuline parents, stated that “We want to share with you our thoughts and facts surrounding two lawsuits that now have been filed against our school, and we want you to hear this directly from us, your President and Board of Directors.”

He stated that the lawsuits “are extremely upsetting. No students or their parents should have to deal with such challenges. At the same time, in the strongest possible terms, we want to express our support for our school leadership and in particular Principal Matthew Sammartino, Assistant Principal Margaret Damore and Athletic Director John DeSantis.”

The letter stated, “We also are secure that our school leadership acted promptly upon learning of these concerns. School administration interviewed parents, coaches, a number of football players involved in the trip, and reviewed all available evidence.

“For example, upon learning of the allegations involving certain members of our football team, we opened an investigation and contacted the Youngstown Police Department, and the Children Services departments in both Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown was also contacted.”

The first lawsuit — both were filed in U.S. District Court — alleges that an Ursuline High football player was physically and sexually assaulted by members of the football team and that the school dismissed the family’s complaints.

The second lawsuit alleges that an Ursuline football player sexually harassed a female Ursuline student in June of 2023 and continued to bully and harass her for the next two years. The suit also alleges that Damore “convinced (the girl’s mother) not to file a police report” after the girl and her mother reported the bullying to her.

Ursuline has not yet filed a response to either lawsuit.