Reedsburg Teens Cited for Harassing Amish Community

REEDSBURG, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Students on the Reedsburg football team have been cited for vandalizing buildings in the Amish community. 

Last week, officials announced that the Reedsburg Area High School varsity football team would not play in its games August 23 and August 30. At the time, school leaders said they wouldn’t have enough students to play because of “an incident in the community”. 

Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister released a statement saying nine teens were ticketed on August 11. “Sauk County deputies were conducting extra patrol in the rural Reedsburg area, after multiple reports of harassment behavior towards members of the Amish community,” it read. Meister said deputies found a car full of teens they believe were responsible. Deputies cited nine juveniles from the Reedsburg area for disorderly conduct.  

Citing social media posts, Wisconsin Public Radio reports the students allegedly vandalized an Amish barn and a school. They also reportedly threw firecrackers and shot paintballs at horses owned by Amish families. 

According to reporting from Wisconsin Public Radio, Reedsburg Area High School Principal Katie Mathews said she is “devastated that many of the student athletes will be missing out on contests.” 

Disorderly conduct carries a $213 fine. It’s not clear whether the students involved will face other consequences.