Atlanta High School Football Coach Arrested After Footage Shows Him Punching Player In The Stomach

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An Atlanta high school coach was caught on television punching one of his players in the stomach during a game on Saturday afternoon. In the viral footage a coach at Benjamin E. Mays High School can be seen hitting the player in the stomach and the young teen can be seen stumbling back holding his stomach. 

The incident reportedly occurred during the first quarter of the game and according to Atlanta News First, the coach was removed from the sidelines by an Atlanta Public Schools police officer and placed in custody and now facing a simple battery charge. A spokesperson also told the news outlet, that the person was a “lay coach,” which means they are a coach who does not teach at the school or hold a teaching certificate. 

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A lay coach for Mays High School, who is not a classroom instructor, is in police custody after an incident that occurred on the sideline during the school’s game this afternoon against Douglas County High School,” spokesman Seth Coleman told the outlet. “The lay coach will be charged with simple battery and face administrative charges from the district.”

“The safety and well-being of all APS students remains a high priority for the district and all APS employees are held to the highest standard of conduct and professionalism,” the statement continued.

As we previously reported, a similar incident happened in Kissimmee, Florida a few years ago. Law enforcement launched a child abuse investigation into Gerrell Williams over the Dec. 7 incident that took place at a youth football event in Kissimmee, Florida. Williams was seen on camera smacking a nine-year-old during the game and the video instantly went viral, sparking outrage online. The video was widely condemned by star athletes including Lebron James, Bruce Smith, Shannon Sharpe, and more.

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The youth football coach has since apologized for his actions and the mother of the young boy told officers that she did NOT want to move forward with criminal charges against Williams. But according to the latest update, he has just been hit with child abuse charges over the incident. Prosecutors explained in a statement:

“The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office along with our local state attorney’s office have reviewed this case and the decision has been made that charges for child abuse will be filed, regardless of parent’s decision not to press charges,” Maj. Jacob Ruiz said. “The actions of this person are despicable and there is zero-tolerance when it comes to the abuse of a child.”

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