Scalf, Zachary Ply

September 9, 2008

The time is approximately 1022 hours. Today's date is Tuesday, September the 9th, 2008. Speaking is Detective Timothy Hightower, of the Louisville Metro Police Department Homicide Squad. This will be a taped statement in regards to Case #08-197. We are currently in the parking lot of Pleasure Ridge Park High School and giving this taped statement...

Hightower

...If you would, state your first name uh, Zachary, for the uh, tape.

Scalf

Zachary.

Hightower

Okay. And your last name?

Scalf Hightower

Scalf. Would you spell that for the tape?

Scalf

S-C-A-L-F.

Hightower

And Zachary is a white male, and how old are you, Zachery?

Scalf

16 years.

Hightower

Okay. And what is your date of birth?

Scalf Hightower

Okay. And what is your home address?

Page 2 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

Scalf

x

Hightower

Is that in Louisville, KY?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Okay.

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Okay. And what is your zip code?

Scalf

40272.

Hightower

And what is your home telephone number?

Scalf Hightower

Zachary, this statement is being tape-recorded. Does it meet with your approval?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

I'm taking this statement in reference to the events that occurred on Wednesday, August the 20th, 2008, that occurred during the PRP football practice. Please describe to me the events of that Wednesday, August the 20th, 2008, from the beginning of practice to the end of practice.

Scalf

Alright. Well, I was in study hall and we have study hall for uhm, about oh, I'd say about 30 minutes, 'cause it's from like 2:40 to 3:10, and then uh, so the freshmen and a few other uh, high school football players that need help with grades and stuff, go to study hall. And then after we left study hall, we went to practice,

Page 3 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

and then uh, when I went out there, I was kinda late 'cause I was gettin' my stuff together, so I jogged out on the field. And we were doin' uh, team warm-ups...or team-take-off's. And that's where just we go through a couple plays. And then uh, after that, we were joggin' over to get some water and when we got there, we were comin' back uh, and then people were walkin' and they weren't joggin' and stuff, so the coaches got mad and uh, so we, they made us line up and then we started runnin'. And then uh...I don't know, we ran for a while...like I was, I was tryin' to keep track of how many there was, and then I lost count after 20. And then uh, so I don't know, we just kept runnin' and then, then I see Max fall, and then somebody, like they were carryin' him over to the side, to the, to the water fountain, and then uh, and then they just sat him down on this little tractor thing and was pourin' water on him and it had ice underneath his armpits. And uh, after that, we ran a little bit more and then we uh, we all like, like sat down and took a knee on underneath the shade tree, and uh, coach said that he wanted us to leave because he was real mad at us and he didn't want nobody to talk to him or anything. And so that was just the end of practice. Hightower

Okay. When you first came out practice, you, you changed clothes. Did you have full equipment on?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Okay. So what does that consist of?

Scalf

Uhm, I can't remember...I think we did have on

Page 4 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

our pants that day, but it has like the pants and the pads and then we had on our shoulder pads with the jersey on it and then the helmet. Oh, and we, when we were runnin' the last few, we got to take off our shoulder pads and helmet. This was after the Max thing, though, if I can remember. Hightower

Okay. So when you first got out there, you started off doing...what was your first event when you were practicin' when you first got out there on the field?

Scalf

Team take-off's.

Hightower

And what does that consist of?

Scalf

It's like we line up as if we were gonna do the play and then we just go through it. And then we, we...we do the first string and the second string and then the freshmen.

Hightower

Okay. and what string are you on?

Scalf

I'm on the freshmen.

Hightower

Freshmen?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

And what position do you play?

Scalf

Full back.

Hightower

Okay. How many water breaks were you given as a individual or as a team?

Page 5 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

Scalf

We was only given one until the end of practice and then we got another one. 'Cause that's when we got in trouble was when we weren't joggin' back from the water fountain.

Hightower

okay. So you were given one as a team or individual?

Scalf

Well, we do, we do it different. Like, when we go off to individuals, like with like the running backs and then the quarterbacks and wide receivers and the linemen, we do our own water breaks, like that. But we only had one. So I'm sure everyone else only had one.

Hightower

Okay. So you had one and your group is the running back group?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Y'all had one...one as a uh, group...

Scalf

Yes.

Hightower

And you said you had another one?

Scalf

No, sir, that was, that was it.

Hightower

You just had one as a group. Okay. So how many water breaks did you take on that Wednesday, August the 20th, 2008?

Scalf

I had just the one during practice and the one after practice.

Hightower

After the last water break, what did practice consist of?

Page 6 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

Scalf

What do you mean?

Hightower

After you had your last water break...

Scalf

...Um-hmm...

Hightower

...did you practice?

Scalf

No, sir.

Hightower

So after, after the last water break you didn't have any more practice?

Scalf

Well, when we had that, that first water break, that's when we got in trouble and started runnin'. We didn't have any water breaks when we were runnin'.

Hightower

Oh. Okay. So after...you had the one, you had a wa...you had a water break and then you weren't hustlin'?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Okay. And who was uh, who decided y'all to run?

Scalf

Uh, I think it was Coach Stinson who said it first and then all the coaches said line up on the line.

Hightower

So that's the reason that y'all were runnin' uh, water spr...running sprints, 'cause y'all weren't hustlin'?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

How many sprints did you run as a group or

Page 7 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

did you break it down in to individuals? Scalf

Uh, we ran as a group. We had the, like the, the bigger guys, like the linemen, they go in and like the skill position goes, like after them. And uh, I really don't remember. I know that I was tryin' to keep track and I lost count after 20.

Hightower

20 sprints?

Scalf

Yes, sir. It's a gasser, it's like you go from sideline to sideline to sideline to sideline, that counts as one.

Hightower

Okay. So you go sideline to sideline, sideline to sideline; so that counts as one, so that's what you're, you're...I know you're showin' me, so that's four times?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Sideline to sideline, sideline to sideline. That's four times.

Scalf

Yes, sir. Four times counts as one.

Hightower

Four times counts as one. Okay. And uh, you said you're in the running back group?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

How many sprints did you run before you took off your gear?

Scalf

Uhm, I really don't remember. I know it was after I lost count after 20. So maybe it was pro'bly about...almost 30 is when we took off

Page 8 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

our helmets, and then we did it a few more times and then we got to take off our shoulder pads. And then I got called out like that I could stop, 'cause, you know, I was like, 'cause I was really workin', like...and that's what they were doin' was the people that was really hustlin', they got to, they got to sit out of the, the gassers, is what they're called, the sprints. Hightower

So you did about, you're sayin' 30 before you took off your equipment?

Scalf

Yes, sir, roughly 30, maybe a little bit less.

Hightower

Okay. then after you took off your gear how many did you do?

Scalf

Only about uhm...after I had all the gear off?

Hightower

Yes.

Scalf

Alright. Pro'bly only two or three more.

Hightower

How long do you think the team was running sprints?

Scalf

Pro'bly about an hour and 15 minutes, and hour and a half. 'Cause I remember the soccer game started as soon as we started runnin'.

Hightower

Did you or any of your teammates ask for water breaks or try to get water during the running of the sprints?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Now you're saying, did you ask for water?

Page 9 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

Scalf

No, sir, I didn't. One of my, one of my teammates did, though.

Hightower

Okay. And who was that?

Scalf

Uh, I don't really know his name, but he goes by "Cam", I think his name's Camden.

Hightower

Camden?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

And what race is he?

Scalf

He's a African-American male.

Hightower

Okay. And you heard him ask for water?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Was he given a chance to get water?

Scalf

No, sir. They said that he needed to keep runnin', and then he asked, he said, come on, Coach, and then the coach said no, you're, you're not even sweatin'. He goes, I am sweatin'. He goes, okay, then you don't need water.

Hightower

Did any of your teammates or you become ill during the running of the sprints?

Scalf

Like did they throw up or anything?

Hightower

Yeah.

Scalf

Uh...

Page 10 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

Hightower

Anybody got sick?

Scalf

Yes, sir. Just, just...I only seen one kid throw up.

Hightower

And who was that?

Scalf

I don't remember his name, but if I seen him, I could tell you.

Hightower

Okay.

Scalf

He's an African-American.

Hightower

Okay. And what was he doing?

Scalf

He was just kinda bent over, like just throwin' up. He wasn't, he wasn't in equipment, though, 'cause he hadn't got his equipment. He was, he was a bigger guy, though.

Hightower

Okay. So he wasn't in equipment?

Scalf

No, sir.

Hightower

Wasn't in...uh, he was just throwin' up when you saw him?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

What were you doin' when you saw him throw up?

Scalf

I just kept runnin' 'cause I saw him when I was runnin' back to the line to touch it and go back.

Hightower

Okay. During any practice this year, have you personally seen or heard any teammates being

Page 11 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

injured...injured or quitting the team? Scalf

Yes, sir. A few of my friends have quit the team and uh, it was our freshman quarterback, it was like when we first started hittin'... I think he fractured his collarbone.

Hightower

Okay. What is his name?

Scalf

Uh...I don't know his name.

Hightower

And he's a friend of yours?

Scalf

Well, he's not really a friend, but he's like, you know, I know him.

Hightower

You know him?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Okay. What is his race?

Scalf

He's a Caucasian, or white.

Hightower

Okay. And you said he uh, broke his collarbone during practice?

Scalf

Yes, sir. He fractured it.

Hightower

Okay. What about anybody...do you know anybody that quit the team?

Scalf

Yes, uh...a few people.

Hightower

Uh, do you know their names?

Scalf

Yes. Chase Carr...

Page 12 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

Hightower

Chase Carr? And what is his race?

Scalf

He's uh, white.

Hightower

Okay. And when did he quit the team?

Scalf

Uhm, it was before we did the one sprints...or, did you wanna know everybody that quit that day or before?

Hightower

Yeah. Anybody that quit before or that day.

Scalf

Alright.

Hightower

Just tell me what, what time they quit. Go back to Chase. You said..

Scalf

Chase, this was uhm, pro'bly about a week before, so...

Hightower

A week before practice?

Scalf

A week before that, the day it happened with Max.

Hightower

Okay.

Scalf

No, not like exactly a week, but, you know...

Hightower

Right. About a week before...

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

...Chase quit. And why did he quit? Do you know?

Scalf

He said that they were just bein' too tough on him. And he couldn't take it. And he's a little

Page 13 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

guy. Hightower

Okay. Bein' too tough on him...did he specifically say why or, as far as what he meant by being too tough on him?

Scalf

No, just like he, he thought the practices were too long and stuff and...I don't know, he just didn't really wanna do it anymore.

Hightower

Okay. And what about another person...you said another, you had another friend of yours quit.

Scalf

Oh, uh...Daniel Gomez.

Hightower

When did Daniel quit?

Scalf

Uhm, pro'bly about three, pro'bly about three days before the thing with Max, so like the Friday before, I think it was.

Hightower

And why did he quit? Do you know?

Scalf

Hu-uh. He didn't tell me.

Hightower

Didn't tell you? Anybody else?

Scalf

Yeah, just Pendleton.

Hightower

And what is his race?

Scalf

He's white.

Hightower

Okay. And when did he quit?

Scalf

I'm not sure, it was close to when...uh, I know

one

other

person,

Brandon

Page 14 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

it was before Chase...I don't know, it's been a while ago. Hightower

Okay. And you said uh, the day when uh, Max was out there, when it happened to Max, did you see what happened to him?

Scalf

No, sir, I just, I just...when I looked over, I seen him and they were carrying him over there.

Hightower

Okay. Where were they carrying him?

Scalf

Over to the, the water. Like there's like a little...I don't know what you would call it, but it's like a water fountain type thing. And we turn it on and it has a whole bunch of different holes in it. Shoots out like a sprinkler, kind of.

Hightower

Okay. And you saw him being carried over there? Who was carryin' him over there?

Scalf

Uhm, uh...I only, I only know one of the guys, I don't remember the other guy at all, but uh...

Hightower

Was he a teammate...

Scalf

...Yes, sir...

Hightower

...or a coach? Okay.

Scalf

They were both teammates. I can't remember, but I know he has a little brother named Thomas. His last name's Agrew.

Hightower

Agrew?

Scalf

Yes, sir. I don't, I don't know his big brother's

Page 15 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

name. Hightower

Okay. And uh, what is his race? Agrew's race?

Scalf

I think they're white. I'm not sure, though.

Hightower

Okay. And they were...him and another teammate was carryin' him over to the water thing?

Scalf

Yes, sir. I think it might have been David, our quarterback, I don't know his last name, though. The other guy was carryin' him.

Hightower

Okay. Has anyone influenced you in any way to withhold information or change anything of the facts that occurred during the practice on that Wednesday, August the 20th, 2008?

Scalf

Well, well...when we were in uh, it was one day after practice, I think it was either our first day back or our second day back at practice, uh, we were in there and they were sayin' that, that we only did 12 wind sprints and that, that's not true. They said that we did uh, I think they said it was eight with full equipment and two without helmet and two without shoulder pads, but that's not true, though. 'Cause even after they said that, when we were walkin' off, I was talkin' to one of my friends...I don't remember who it was...and I said they said that we only did 12, we did way more than that, did, didn't we? They were like yeah. And I was like, yeah, I know I lost count after 20. And then he had done, the kid I'm speakin' to, he said that he thinks we did 32, but I'm not sure.

Hightower

Okay.

Now who, who was tryin' to uh,

Page 16 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

influence you, as far as saying how many wind sprints you did? Scalf

Well, Coach Stinson wasn't really, it was Coach Stinson, but he wasn't really sayin' this, I mean we did, you know, like sayin', you know, like tryin' to make us think that, I don't think...

Hightower

...Um-hmm..

Scalf

...but he just said the day when we did 12 wind sprints, and like he just brought it up...'cause that day we did uh, we did seven that day after practice. And he was like see, today we did seven and it wasn't that hard. But the other day it was just hot and we did 12.

Hightower

Okay. Did anybody else say anything about how many you did besides him?

Scalf

Uh, no, sir, they didn't say anything about the wind sprints, but uh, another one of the coaches said that uh, that he's been askin' if we need water lately 'cause, I guess the thing that happened with Max...so he's been tryin' to get us to, get water, and said you know uh, we, we've never turned down a water break, so if you ever need one just let us know.

Hightower

You know what, what coach said that?

Scalf

I don't remember. I just remember a coach sayin' it.

Hightower

And when did they say that to you?

Scalf

Uh, I think it was like first day back.

Page 17 of 17 Statement: Zachary Scalf / Case #08197(b) September 9, 2008

Hightower

First day back?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Okay. Is this statement that you have given me on the tape, is it the truth?

Scalf

Yes, sir.

Hightower

Do you have anything else to add to this statement?

Scalf

No, sir.

Hightower

I'd like to end this statement. approximately 1039 hours.

END OF STATEMENT File #08197bhightower-ks

The time is