6 high school football players alleged to have raped girl in woods near school arrested

© WFTV

Police in Winter Springs said they have arrested six teens in connection to the alleged rape of a student last week.

Those arrested Wednesday were identified as Tywuan Johnson, 17, Torreano Batton, 18, Jose Sims, 17, Deoante Stewart, 17, and Tolbert Alexander, 16, all of Sanford; and Marquis Pierre, 16, of Winter Springs.

Police said all six are football players, and have been charged with sexual battery and false imprisonment.

Investigators said a 16-year-old Winter Springs High School student reported that she had been raped by a group of teens in a wooded area across from the school late Thursday afternoon.

According to investigators, the girl told them that she knew two of the attackers. Investigators said that over the weekend, they tracked down the accused juveniles in an effort to piece together what happened.

Winter Springs Police Chief Kevin Brunelle said they have plenty of evidence against the suspects, which was being reviewed by his team and the State Attorney's Office over the last week.

"This is a case where we were presented with information that is very complex and that required us to make sure we do a thorough, thorough investigation," said Brunelle.

There are questions surrounding how the alleged victim made her way to the wooded area in the first place, in which the chief said the details will all come out in court.

"At some point between the interaction of these individuals, the subjects and the victim, the victim indicated that she no longer wanted to participate in the activities and she wanted to go back to the school, and she was not allowed to," said Brunelle.

Because Batton is 18, he's being held in the Seminole County Jail. The others are being held in juvenile detention, but their names were released because they are accused of a felony.

"They have somewhat been cooperating," said Brunelle. "We have had some resistance from one or two of them, but we will deal with that in the courts."

Seminole County Public Schools released the following statement:

"School officials have been notified by the Winter Springs Police Department of the arrest of several young men.

"We cannot be specific as to any action taken by the school due to student confidentiality.

"Additionally, the school system has appropriate programs in place to meet the needs of any affected students."