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Video shows Denver cheerleaders forced into splits; staff on administrative leave

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DENVER – Five school officials at East High School were placed on administrative leave Wednesday after the Denver Public Schools Superintendent was made aware of distressing video showing cheerleaders being forced into splits over the summer. 

East High Principal Andy Mendelsberg, East High Assistant Principal Lisa Portert, East Cheer Coach Ozell Williams, East Assistant Cheer coach Mariah Cladis and DPS Deputy General Counsel Michael Huckman were all placed on leave so the school and Denver Police could perform a thorough investigation of the video.

“We absolutely prohibit any practices that place our students’ physical and mental health in jeopardy,” said DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg in a statement sent to Denver7. “We do not and will not allow any situation in which a student is forced to perform an activity or exercise beyond the point at which they express their desire to stop.”

The parents of Ally Wakefield told Denver7 on Thursday they reached out to the school to take action after their daughter showed them excruciating video depicting the East High cheer coach forcing Wakefield into a split. 

In the video, Wakefield cries out in pain, begging her coach and teammates to stop. Despite her cries, the group continues to force her into a split.

Kirsten Wakefield, Ally's mother, said the video was shot on June 6, and explained she consulted with a doctor after her daughter's leg was injured during the cheer practice.

"When Ally showed me this video, and five others of different teammates, I couldn't stop crying after witnessing the pain and abuse they were suffering," Wakefield said. 

Wakefield said what concerned her nearly as much as the alleged abuse was that the coach reportedly told players never to share videos taken in practice outside of practice and never to anybody off the team. 

"If he thought that the technique was appropriate to be utilizing, he would have no need to try and stop the girls from sharing what had happened," Wakefield said.

Denver7 obtained the videos depicting other girls, however we are only posting the video depicting Ally due to her parents' consent. 

East High's Assistant Principal Jason Maclin will serve as interim principal during the investigation, which includes the school district’s Department of Safety and the Denver Police Department.

“With regards to certain videos, I cannot state strongly enough – as the superintendent of the school district and as the father of two high school-aged daughters -- that the images and actions depicted are extremely distressing and absolutely contrary to our core values as a public school community,” Boasberg said.

Denver police released the following statement about the video:

"On August 23, 2017, the Denver Police Department received anonymous information regarding the incidents involving a cheerleader coach at East High School, and Denver Police child abuse detectives immediately began an investigation. This is an open case, therefore no additional details or videos will be provided at this time."