BARABOO, Wis. — Three temporary restraining orders filed against Baraboo School District’s athletic director were dismissed Wednesday, online court records show.
The mothers of a group of Baraboo High School students filed the orders against James Langkamp last week and called for his resignation after they said the students were forced out of a car and onto their knees. Baraboo police said the students were involved in “homecoming-related activities” before the incident, while toilet paper was seen hanging from trees in the neighborhood where the incident took place.
Several adults were involved and arrested, including Langkamp. Court records show that one man, John Kolar, was charged after the incident. Langkamp and the other man have not been charged with crimes.
Kolar was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and was released from jail on a $150 signature bond. He is scheduled for an initial appearance in Sauk County court on November 2.
Langkamp reportedly told police that he didn’t get involved in the situation until after the students were forced out of the car, saying he walked up to help de-escalate the situation. The students, however, alleged that he was one of the people who stopped the car. He was put on non-disciplinary administrative leave while the district conducts an internal investigation.
The students involved in the incident are athletes, and their parents expressed concern about them playing under Langkamp after the incident. One of the students involved is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and tribal leaders called on federal officials to investigate the case as a potential bias incident.
In a statement to News 3 Now on Wednesday, the Ho-Chunk Nation said it has discussed that request with the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, who told the Nation they conferred with the FBI and their Civil Rights Division about the incident.
“We acknowledge that this is a complex matter and we must respect their jurisdictional and prosecutorial authority,” the Ho-Chunk Nation said in its statement to News 3 Now. “We support our tribal members, youth or adults, in their pursuit of justice. We denounce the reckless endangerment of health and welfare of our tribal members, including mental health and trauma. And we continue to call upon Baraboo and Sauk community leaders to treat this situation with utmost seriousness.”
On Wednesday, Baraboo School District Director of Communications Liz Crammond said Langkamp currently remains on leave.
“Jim Langkamp continues to be on non-disciplinary administrative leave pending the internal investigation,” Crammond said. “The District has no additional comment at this time.”
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