A California high school football coach was arrested after students found a cellphone secretly recording inside a campus locker room, police said. The device was discovered by students at Tracy High School while they were changing. Authorities said the phone was linked to teacher and varsity coach Jeffrey Pribble, who was placed on leave as police and school officials investigate.
Students stopped the recording, deleted the video and gave the phone to a teacher before a concerned parent contacted police. School resource officers and detectives then began an investigation that led to the arrest the following day.
| 1) | Students discover a recording device |
| 2) | Police identify the phone’s owner |
| 3) | School district places coach on leave |
| 4) | Officials address student privacy concerns |
| 5) | Criminal and district investigations continue |
Students discover a recording device
The incident began Thursday at Tracy High School in Tracy, California, east of San Francisco. A student and several classmates found a cellphone recording inside the school locker room while students were changing. The students stopped the recording, deleted the video and turned the device over to a teacher. The discovery prompted concern because the phone had been placed in a private area where students had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Police identify the phone’s owner
A concerned parent contacted Tracy police later Thursday evening. School resource officers and detectives opened an investigation to determine who owned the device and how it came to be inside the locker room. On Friday, officers determined that the cellphone belonged to Jeffrey Pribble, a 48-year-old teacher at Tracy High School, and arrested him. The available information describes an allegation under investigation and does not establish a criminal conviction.
School district places coach on leave
Jeffrey Pribble is identified by school materials and public social media information as Tracy High School’s varsity football head coach and a physical education teacher. He had held the coaching position for five years and had 22 years of experience as an educator with the district, according to information attributed to his public account. The Tracy Unified School District placed him on leave while separate criminal and district investigations proceed.
Officials address student privacy concerns
School officials acknowledged that an employee had been arrested but did not publicly identify the teacher or detail the specific allegations in their communication to families. Principal Jon Waggle said the district was cooperating fully with police and recognized that the incident could raise serious concerns among students, parents and staff.
“The District too is concerned about the well-being of its students and staff and is committed to holding its employees to the highest professional and ethical standards,” Jon Waggle wrote.
Criminal and district investigations continue
Police and district officials are continuing their respective investigations. Police Chief Sekou Millington said student safety and privacy remain priorities for the department. He also thanked the students who brought the phone to adults and the officers and detectives who responded. The district’s leave decision is administrative and does not resolve the criminal allegations. Further findings will depend on the ongoing investigations and any legal proceedings that follow.
“Our children deserve to feel safe at school and in every space where they should be able to learn, grow, and simply be kids,” Sekou Millington said.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Students found a cellphone recording inside a Tracy High School locker room. |
| 2 | Police said the phone belonged to teacher and football coach Jeffrey Pribble. |
| 3 | The school district placed Pribble on leave pending separate investigations. |
| 4 | Students, a parent, school staff and police all helped bring the incident to authorities. |
Summary
The arrest followed the discovery of a recording cellphone in a high school locker room. The school district has removed the teacher and coach from active duties while police and district officials investigate the circumstances, with student privacy and safety at the center of the response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Tracy High School?
Students found a cellphone recording inside a locker room while they were changing. They stopped the recording, deleted the video and gave the phone to a teacher.
Who was arrested?
Police arrested Jeffrey Pribble, a 48-year-old Tracy High School teacher and varsity football coach, after determining that the phone belonged to him.
What action did the school district take?
The Tracy Unified School District placed Pribble on leave while separate criminal and district investigations continue.
Has the investigation concluded?
No. Police and district officials are still investigating, and the arrest represents an allegation rather than a criminal conviction.
