Details released about Reedsburg students involved in Amish community harassment

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Department has released details on allegations against teens accused of harassing the Amish community earlier this month. 

According to a redacted incident report filed Aug. 11 and sent to WPR Wednesday, the teens spent several nights blowing air horns, shining lights outside of homes, ringing doorbells and lighting off fireworks. 

Nine juveniles have been cited for disorderly conduct and fined $213. 

On Tuesday, the School District of Reedsburg confirmed football players were among those cited for the harassing behavior. 

The district canceled the first two varsity games of the season. 

In a statement, school officials said they were disappointed to learn about the allegations against students enrolled in the district. 

“The district is limited in its authority to discipline students for conduct that occurs entirely outside of the district’s property, programs, and activities,” the statement said. “Generally speaking, for such conduct, the district has the legal right to impose discipline within the athletic program, but not through suspension or expulsion from school.” 

According to the incident report, deputies increased patrol in western Sauk County after multiple reports of harassing behavior in the Amish community at night. 

During a traffic stop on Aug. 11, several juveniles were “determined to be part of a larger group that had been engaging in these behaviors.” 

One of the juveniles told deputies they had gotten the idea from students at a neighboring school district.

The juveniles reportedly admitted to knowing the Amish did not have cameras, making them “easy targets.”