PEORIA, Ariz. — Community members packed Thursday's Peoria Unified School District board meeting.
The meeting took place the day after Peoria High School boys basketball coach Patrick Battillo was arrested. Battillo is a Suns superfan and is known by many as “Mr. ORNG.”
He is accused of using Snapchat to contact at least one male student and offer him money in exchange for sexually explicit videos and photos, according to court documents Wednesday.
Another teacher, Holly Holgate, was also arrested. Peoria police say one of her victims told her about her inappropriate messages. Instead of reporting her charges to the school, she allegedly told Battillo, who left her campus, police said.
School district governing board members, including the superintendent, addressed the arrest.
“I want to emphasize that our district is fully cooperating with our law enforcement partners and their investigation,” said PUSD Supt. Kenneth Summers. “And we will continue to work tirelessly and collaboratively toward the safety and well-being of our students.”
Community members filled nearly every seat, and many stood up to demand action.
One local resident said, “We need to set a precedent that it is wrong to abuse children.''
“There may be a need for a full investigation into that high school, or in general as people are talking about tonight,” another source said.
Board members declined ABC15's request for an interview.
The school district said both employees have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
ABC15 referred further questions to Peoria Police. He said he is working on a response.