At least four people have come forward with allegations of misconduct against the former head coach of USA Gymnastics' national tumbling team, according to documents obtained by IndyStar and interviews with two people connected to the situation.

USA Gymnastics forced Sergio Galvez to resign from that role in October, after the first allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. Galvez has denied any wrongdoing.

The first complaint, which was obtained by IndyStar, described a pattern of flirtatious communication and touching that made the athlete uncomfortable.

A blind eye to sex abuse:How USA Gymnastics failed to report cases

A 20-year toll:368 gymnasts allege sexual exploitation

An email from SafeSport indicates that an additional complaint was being investigated by law enforcement. And people involved said they were told of two others.

The first athlete filed a complaint with the U.S. Center for SafeSport on Oct. 18, claiming Galvez sexually, emotionally and physically abused her, records obtained by IndyStar show.

IndyStar agreed not to name the woman because of the nature of the allegations.

Invitation to cabin at Karolyi Ranch

In her complaint to SafeSport, the athlete said Galvez started harassing her a few months after he became her coach at the Capital Gymnastics National Training Center in Burke, Virginia. Galvez also was her boss. The athlete said she worked full-time at the gym to pay for her gymnastics training.

The athlete claimed Galvez invited her to his cabin at the Karolyi Ranch, asked about her dating life, commented on how she looked in a leotard and rubbed her sore muscles "in a way that made me uncomfortable."

"I felt I could not refuse his advances because he was my personal coach, the national team coach who selected the team for Worlds, and my boss," the athlete wrote in her SafeSport complaint. "I desperately wanted to represent the U.S. in this sport and continue training."

Galvez's attorney, Howard Jacobs, said the athlete's allegations are "totally false." He said Galvez "denies any inappropriate conduct with this woman."

"There were no advances," Jacobs said.

The athlete provided SafeSport with copies of text messages she said came from Galvez. In them, Galvez appeared to flirt, told her he loved her and said he thought she was amazing.

"You are my girlfriend with no benefits," he said in one message. "I must make sure you are mentally happy."

At one point, Galvez told her he wasn't sure "how far" they could be friends.

"I relate to you," he said in a text. "Yet I M Afraid of you. Safesport."

When asked to comment on the messages, Jacobs told IndyStar "it's impossible to respond to text messages that have not been provided to us by anybody." He said SafeSport has not provided Galvez with copies of any of the complaints or accompanying documentation. IndyStar obtained the complaint from a source under the condition that it may be quoted but not disseminated.

In her complaint, the athlete said she told the gym owners, Barry and Chrissy Neff, about what she felt was a pattern of sexual and emotional harassment by Galvez. The gym owners did not respond to IndyStar's requests for comment.

She left coaching job and quit sport

In February, the athlete quit the sport and her job as a coach at the gym.

She didn't file a complaint with SafeSport until eight months later. She told IndyStar people discouraged her from reporting it, saying the situation wasn't abuse because she was an adult when it happened and it did not involve intercourse.

Then a mutual acquaintance connected the athlete to attorney Jessica Armstrong, a former U.S. National Team member who had been sexually abused by a gymnastics coach.

Armstrong convinced the athlete she needed to file a complaint.

"What really struck me as so devastating was she loved her sport and she was not able to do it at all and had a forced retirement from the sport because of this situation," Armstrong told IndyStar. "And that was just so painful and so raw for her."

Armstrong, who has continued to act as the athlete's advocate during the SafeSport process, said Galvez abused his position of power over the athlete.

Galvez had been USA Gymnastics' head coach of the national tumbling team since October 2016. Leaving the gym wouldn't fix the athlete's problem, Armstrong said, because Galvez was still in charge of the national team.

Actions by USA Gymnastics, SafeSport

After learning about the athlete's complaint, USA Gymnastics told Galvez to resign. The national governing body also announced he would not travel with the team to the World Championships in Russia.

Galvez initially was allowed to continue coaching and working at Capital Gymnastics National Training Center while the U.S. Center for SafeSport investigated the allegations. But the gym placed him on administrative leave less than two weeks later after SafeSport received additional complaints. USA Gymnastics and SafeSport said Galvez "cannot coach for any organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee" until the investigation is complete.

In a statement to IndyStar, SafeSport said its policy is not to speak about specific matters "to protect the integrity of the process and the confidentiality of the individuals involved."

The athlete and Armstrong said SafeSport told them that three others have come forward with allegations of misconduct against Galvez.

Those facing charges:Ex-Michigan State President latest to face criminal charges in the USA Gymnastics scandal

His crimes:Victims share what Larry Nassar did to them under the guise of medical treatment

In an email to the two women, which was obtained by IndyStar, SafeSport said its own investigation was on hold while law enforcement investigates one of the complaints.

"Criminal investigations take priority, so we are coordinating closely with them and waiting for the okay to move forward with our investigation," Jocelyn Shafer, SafeSport's intake and program services manager, wrote in a Nov. 30 email.

The Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia confirmed it closed one investigation involving Galvez because no crime was indicated to have occurred in its jurisdiction. It is unclear whether that is the investigation referenced in Shafer's email.

In general, SafeSport said there could be an occasion when a report is taken to more than one law enforcement agency.

Galvez remains suspended pending a hearing.

Call IndyStar reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski at 317-444-6135. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyMarisaK.