Calling the Cops

On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, I ( Deputy J. Caloca #697) was in full Imperial County Sheriff'' s Office (ICSO) uniform assigned to the Holtville Unified School District (HUSD) as the School Resource Officer. At approximately 0906 hours, Sergeant J. Conkey #655 called me via cell phone and informed me ICSO command staff received a complaint about a rumored sexual relationship between a Holtville High School ( HHS) student and a HHS female teacher. I informed Sergeant Conkey I was not aware of such rumors. At approximately 0921 hours, I met with HHS Principal, Anthony Arevalo. I informed Mr. Arevalo ICSO received a complaint about a rumored relationship between a HHS female teacher and a male student. I asked Mr. Arevalo if he knew anything about the rumors. Mr. Arevalo stated HUSD heard about the rumors and he along with Superintendent Celso Ruiz conducted an internal investigation. Mr. Arevalo stated the findings were inconclusive. Mr. Arevalo identified the alleged involved HHS teacher as [redacted] and the student as [redacted]. Mr. Arevalo informed me was a part time HHS [redacted] student ( takes two classes) and full time [redacted] student. [redacted] does not have any classes with [redacted]. Mr. Arevalo told me the rumor that was heard was that [redacted] and [redacted] were having some type of relationship. Mr. Arevalo was told [redacted] was in her office inside the girl's locker room with [redacted] and the door was locked. A HHS staff member was looking for [redacted] and knocked on her door which was locked and [redacted] was inside with [redacted]. The fact that [redacted] was inside the office with [redacted] was strange because [redacted] does not have that class. The staff member knocked on the locked door and [redacted] opened it immediately within 1 second. I asked Mr. Arevalo if it was normal for a male scudent to be in [redacted] office which is in the girl's locker room. Mr. Arevalo stated it was not normal. Mr. Arevalo had a conversation with [redacted] and his mother and informed them told them he is welcome to come to HHS and attend his classes but he should not be hanging out in other areas of the campus if he did not have a period at the location. Mr. Arevalo told [redacted] it was more appropriate for him to go to the office or library during an off period if there was a need. Mr. Arevalo informed me [redacted] and her family spent time together with [redacted] family because they are close family friends. Mr. Arevalo informed me he conducted an internal administrative HHS investigation. Mr. Arevalo stated Mr. Ruiz joined him in several investigations regarding all the issues. Mr. Arevalo stated the HUSD attorney was also brought in throughout the process. The findings from their investigations do not [redacted] suggest has not done anything that suggest she was involved in a sexual relationship with [redacted]. Mr. Arevalo stated [redacted] has done things that show poor judgement on behalf of a teacher. I asked Mr. Arevalo what type of decisions [redacted] had made that showed poor judgement. Mr. Arevalo provided examples such as; having a boy in her office with the door closed, transporting students in her own vehicle (instead of using HUSD vehicle), being seen in the wrestling room with students with the lights off ( Mr. Arevalo stated sometimes this happens). Mr. Arevalo told me he also heard that [redacted] was in Yuma on a Friday night with [redacted]. [redacted] explained she was mentoring him because [redacted] was going through some [redacted]. Another instant that was reported was that there was a funeral service where [redacted] showed up with [redacted]. This was cause for concern to community members, because a teacher showed up to a funeral with a student. [redacted] has had instances where she shows up with [redacted] to school games. Mr. Arevalo informed [redacted] parents met with Mr. Ruiz and an investigator. Parents are very aware of the situation and state nothing is going on between [redacted] and [redacted]. [redacted] was also interviewed and stated nothing is going on between him and [redacted]. [redacted] was also interviewed and also stated there was nothing going on between her and [redacted]. Mr. Arevalo stated several faculty members and staff were also interviewed. Nothing demonstrated any sexual relationship between [redacted] and [redacted]. Mr. Arevalo did not have any additional information to provide. At approximately 1000 hours, I spoke with [redacted] mother, [redacted]. I informed [redacted] ICSO received a complaint of a rumors going around involving [redacted] and a HHS teacher. I asked if she knew anything about the rumors. [redacted] told me they were straight rumors. [redacted] told me the school just finished a complete investigation where an outside resource interviewed everyone. [redacted] told me Celso Ruiz (HUSD Superintendent) determined the allegations were only rumors. [redacted] added she is aware of the times has [redacted] been with [redacted]. [redacted] informed me [redacted] is a family friend. [redacted] asserted there is no intimate relationship between [redacted] and [redacted]. [redacted] told me the allegations were only rumors and she was satisfied with the investigation conducted by HUSD. At approximately 1019 hours, I met with [redacted] in Mr. Arevalo' s office in private. I told [redacted] he was not in trouble and informed him I heard about rumors going around involving him and a HHS teacher. I asked [redacted] to tell me about the rumors. [redacted] told me the rumor was that there was sexual stuff going on between him and [redacted]. I asked if there was any sexual relationship between and him. told me "No Sir". I asked [redacted] what his relationship to [redacted] was. [redacted] told me [redacted] was a family friend. I asked [redacted] if he had seen [redacted] off campus in the past. [redacted] told me he had spent time with off campus in the past frequently, but not lately. [redacted] added that his parents knew about it and were aware of where they were at all times. I asked [redacted] what they did when they hung out off campus. [redacted] told me they went to the store like Walmart to get A. S. B. stuff, eat dinner, and would return home. I asked [redacted] to confirm or deny the rumor of him and eating at a restaurant in Yuma (Arizona). [redacted] told me "yes". [redacted] told me they went to Hobby Lobby to buy A. S. B. stuff. I asked [redacted] if he was part of A. S. B. [redacted] told me "no". I asked why he was helping with A. S. B. stuff. [redacted] said [redacted] was a family friend and he was helping her out. I asked what else happened that day. [redacted] told me they ate at Texas Roadhouse and returned home after. I did not ask any additional questions, and he was sent back to his classroom with no further action. At approximately 1035 hours, I met with [redacted] in an office in private. I informed [redacted] ICSO received a complaint about a rumored sexual relationship between a HHS student and a HHS female teacher. [redacted] told me she was willing to cooperate with me and answer any question, and asked if her husband could be present. I told [redacted] there was no need and she was not in any trouble. [redacted] began crying and told me this has been emotionally too much for her. I asked if she could tell me about the rumors. [redacted] told me she heard a lot of things but they were just rumors. [redacted] said one of the rumors she heard was that someone said they saw them ([redacted] and her) leaving the desert together and she was wearing his shirt. [redacted] stated she has never been to the desert together. [redacted] said they have been out there at the same time, but she would be camping out in an area with her family and her friends and [redacted] would be in a different area with his family. [redacted] said [redacted] and his siblings would drive by her campsite and say hi because they are family friends. [redacted] stated she does not know who is saying these rumors and trying to ruin her life. While I was speaking with [redacted] her husband ([redacted]) called her cell phone. [redacted] put her cell phone on speaker. I informed [redacted] about the reported rumors, and that I was not conducting a criminal investigation at this time. [redacted] told me another rumor she was told about was that she was seen inside the wrestling room with [redacted] with the lights off. [redacted] said that happens all the time, where kids sneak into the weight room. [redacted] understands that the light should have been turned on when she went in there with the students, but added she would have had to walk across the room to the location of the light switch. [redacted] stated it was not a big deal because she walked in the room to tell the students to get out. [redacted] has to kick students (both male and female) to get out frequently. [redacted] said she heard question about her and [redacted] being seen together a lot. I asked [redacted] if that rumor was truthful. [redacted] said they used to be together all the time at the beginning of the school year. [redacted] said she made trips to make A. S. B. purchases and sometimes [redacted] would go along with her and other times other students would go. [redacted] would confirm with [redacted] mother and get parental consent to take [redacted] with her. [redacted] told me they would go get the stuff they needed and usually get something to eat and they would return. [redacted] told me [redacted] would be with her a lot because he would help her with A. S. B. stuff. [redacted] said [redacted] was not part of A. S. B. and the trips were over the summer and at the beginning of the school year after school. [redacted] told me last year her son was in minor league baseball as a catcher and [redacted] was a catcher previously. [redacted] said her son looks up to [redacted] because they share that in common. [redacted] told me [redacted] would go see her son's games, where she would be with her husband and kids. [redacted] would sit with her and her family to watch the games as a family unit. [redacted] said she is certain people saw him at her son's games. [redacted] said [redacted] was just around and she treated him like his kid. I provided [redacted] a business card with the report number. I explained the process of obtaining a copy of the report. I terminated my interview with [redacted] with no further incident. After speaking to school staff and the rumored involved parties, I was unable to find any evidence of an intimate relationship between [redacted] and [redacted]. Based on my findings I determined the allegations to be rumors only. No further action is necessary from ICSO.