Coach Arrested for Secretly Recording Students
A California high school football coach was taken into custody on Friday following a disturbing incident where students found a cellphone secretly recording them in a locker room, as reported by the police.
The phone belonged to Jeffrey Pribble, a 48-year-old physical education teacher and the head coach for the varsity football team at Tracy High School, situated east of San Francisco, according to the Tracy Police Department.
Pribble has been with the school for five years in his coaching role and has accumulated 22 years of teaching experience within the district, based on information from his Facebook profile.
The situation unfolded on Thursday when a student, along with several classmates, discovered the recording device in the locker room. They quickly stopped the recording, deleted the video, and handed the phone over to a teacher.
Concerned parents later contacted the Tracy police, prompting resource officers and detectives to begin an investigation that evening. The following day, it was confirmed that the phone belonged to Pribble, leading to his arrest.
As a response to the allegations, the Tracy Unified School District placed Pribble on leave while separate investigations, both criminal and internal, are conducted.
In an email to parents, Tracy High Principal Jon Waggle acknowledged the incident. Although details about the allegations were not specified, he reassured the community that the district is collaborating fully with law enforcement.
Waggle further expressed commitment to student and staff safety, stating, “The cooperation between students, parents, and staff members is crucial in keeping our schools safe and appreciated.” He indicated that the situation has understandably raised concerns among parents and the community.
Police Chief Sekou Millington emphasized the importance of student safety, remarking that children deserve to feel secure in their learning environments. “Our priority is ensuring they can grow, learn, and just be kids,” he noted.
The district remains thankful for the bravery of the students who reported the incident, and they are committed to protecting the safety, privacy, and well-being of all students. The ongoing investigations will shed more light on the situation.
