SAYREVILLE — Police came to the home of Sayreville High School star athlete Myles Hartsfield on Friday night, only minutes before authorities announced that "six of seven juveniles were taken into custody ... on charges of juvenile delinquency arising from the attacks upon four victims in four separate incidents at Sayreville War Memorial High School."

Authorities did not release the names of those taken into custody, so it is unknown if Hartsfield — Sayreville High's highest-profile athlete and a three-sport standout — was among them.

According to a joint statement issued by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief John Zebrowski of the Sayreville Police Department, "Three of the juvenile defendants are charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint, and hazing for engaging in an act of sexual penetration upon one of the juvenile victims.



"One of those juvenile defendants and the remaining four juvenile defendants were charged with various counts including aggravated assault, conspiracy, aggravated criminal sexual contact, hazing and riot by participating in the attack of the remaining victims," the statement said.

When police arrived in the Hartsfield's neighborhood at 8:10 p.m. on Friday, they parked a house away and remained in the vehicle for 15 minutes. When they knocked on the door, the athlete’s father answered, with the family dog in his arms, and said his son was not home.

The officers entered the home, and waited for Myles Hartsfield, who arrived 15 minutes later in a smaller SUV. He was wearing gray sweat pants and a dark-colored sweatshirt.



Ten minutes later, after what sounded like sobbing could be heard coming from the house, police pulled their car into the garage, then left with someone who did not appear to be Myles Hartsfield in the back seat.

As the police vehicle exited the premises, it drove past a lawn sign that was stuck in the ground between the driveway and the front walk, lit by a lone outdoor bulb:

HOME OF A

SAYREVILLE BOMBER

FAN!

Go Big Blue!

Darrel Hartsfield, the athlete's father, followed officers to the police station, but he refused comment before entering the building.

Another police vehicle was also at the Hartsfield home. It is not known if Myles Hartsfield was removed from the property in that car.

A sign outside the home of Sayreville star football player Myles Hartsfield.

The six juveniles, ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old, are being detained pending a Family Court decision on whether the youths will be held at a detention facility or released to the custody of their parents or guardians. The remaining juvenile defendant is being sought at this time, the statement said.



On Friday night, before police arrived, Darrel Hartsfield came home just before 7 p.m. in a silver Ford SUV. He remained in the vehicle for several minutes to talk on his cell phone. When he exited, he was asked for comment on his son's possible involvement in the hazing and he replied, "No, thank you."



When other questions were fired at him as he strode toward the home, he remained silent, entered the house and closed the door.



Before the scandal broke, Myles Hartsfield was headed for Penn State on a football scholarship. Now the future of Sayreville's most prominent athlete is uncertain.



Earlier in the week, Penn State coach James Franklin had said the Nittany Lions were watching the Sayreville developments closely. Penn State officials could not be reached for comment Friday night.

Until now, Hartsfield, a football team captain, has been the textbook definition of superstar with a boundless future. The 6-foot, 190-pounder played football and basketball and was a four-event standout for the Bombers track and field team in the spring of 2014.

He's best known for his football talents, however, and he's ranked the No. 16 prospect on the NJ.com Top 50 list. Hartsfield committed to Penn State in June, giving the Nittany Lions his verbal commitment over offers from Rutgers, Purdue, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Pitt, Georgia Tech and others.

Rivals.com lists him as the No. 28 athlete in the country and the No. 13 prospect for the Garden State. As a junior in 2013, he rushed for 1,586 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning Third Team All-State, First Team All-Group 5 and First Team All-Middlesex County honors.

NJ.com college football recruiting analyst Todderick Hunt speaks highly of the senior's talent.

“Hartsfield has the potential to become one of the best players to come out of Sayreville High School,” Hunt said. “He plays with balance and power and has a nice combination of size, quickness and durability. Hartsfield has the lateral agility, foot quickness and hip flexibility to become a standout safety at the FBS level.”

Hartsfield was a sophomore on Sayreville's 2012 Central Jersey, Group 4 state-championship team, rushing for 486 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 40 tackles and three interceptions on defense that season.

With his speed and athleticism, Hartsfield was also a standout on Sayreville's track and field team, playing a key role in the Bombers capturing their first Group 4 outdoor track state championship last spring.

In the triple jump, Hartsfield recorded a leap of 50-1½, which ranks third in state history, to capture first place. He also won the long jump with a leap of 23-3¾ and was a member of Sayreville’s first-place 4x100 relay squad. Hartsfield was named First-Team All-State, First-Team All-Middlesex County and First-Team All-Group 4. During the winter months, Hartsfield is also a guard for the basketball team. In 25 games last season, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

On his Instagram account earlier in the week, Myles Hartfield posted: "I'm so glad to say I live in sayreville! This town has given me so much support! I wouldn't change it for the world! I wouldn't be the young man I am today with out the group of men I been with for the past 4 years! People always say you can't chose your family, while I choose this family three years ago and I would never change that! I love my town and no one going to change that! #love #family #team #bombers"

Braulio Perez may be reached at bperez@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BraulioEPerez. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.