[TXMike]

Is the story below related to the same KY incident? If not, sounds like you have some real problem children coaching there.


From the FloydCountyTimes.com

Police probing SFMS football brawl

by TOM DOTY
and MARY MUSIC
Staff Writers

HI HAT - A fight that erupted during a middle school football game Saturday prompted allegations against a Kentucky State Police trooper who was coaching a Breathitt County team.

Prestonsburg resident Angela Hall is pursuing charges against Kentucky State Police Trooper Mike Wolfe, who serves as a coach for the Sebastian Middle School football team.

Hall, wife of Prestonsburg attorney Tim Parker, says her son attended the Sandy Valley Conference game at South Floyd Middle School because his father, Chad Hall, was coaching the South Floyd team.

Authorities say that a fight broke out between the players on the field and grew to an uncontrollable level as bystanders rushed into the melee. One report indicated that the Breathitt County bus was blocked at the school and that they called 911 for help, but officials could not confirm that allegation.

KSP Trooper B.J. Caudill said he was called in to escort the Sebastian Middle School bus to Route 80.

Hall alleges that her son, a 15-year-old basketball player at Prestonsburg High School, was treated and released for head injuries at McDowell Appalachian Regional Medical Center because Trooper Wolfe knocked him unconscious during the fight.




“A fight breaks out between the players and the Breathitt County coach (Trooper Wolfe) picks my son up and throws him up against the fence and knocks him unconscious. He hits him on the side of the head with his fist,” she said. “My son was taken to the ER by ambulance and was treated and released for head injuries.”

McDowell resident Trampus Evans, whose son is a halfback for South Floyd, said he saw a South Floyd player and a Sebastian Middle School player shoving each other on the sideline during the fourth quarter of the game. Hall's son reportedly ran over to step between the two boys, who were, by that time, surrounded by onlookers. Evans said he witnessed Trooper Wolfe run across the filed and hit Hall's son.

“The state trooper hit him a couple or three times and slung him into the fence,” Evans said. “After that, it all went to pieces. A bunch of people ganged up around it. I was just in a hurry to get my son out of that situation. People came from everywhere. After he [Trooper Wolfe] hit that little feller, he made a point to tell everyone that he was a state trooper. Me, myself, I think the trooper should have handled it better ... The state trooper took it personally. He wanted to whup somebody.”

Evans said he was uninjured and that his son walked away with a couple of bruises on his arm.

Parker, who did not attend the game Saturday, said Wolfe should be disciplined for mistreating his stepson.

“If you've ever been to a football game, you know that when a coach comes across the field, everybody watches him,” Parker said. “It'd be better for him [Wolfe] if he'd just come clean about it. I'm sure he's worried about losing his job, but it ain't no better if he tries to lie his way out of it ... I think this is a real serious thing. If he did this to [my stepson], what's he's doing to drunk drivers? Where's his anger control training and his impulse control training? As far as the family is concerned, this man needs to be disciplined and by that, I mean incarcerated.”

KSP Lt. George Gyurik, Wolfe's supervisor in Morehead, said that his investigation indicates that football coaches stepped in to separate the players and the bystanders after the fight broke out.

Gyurik said there is no reason to bring disciplinary action against Wolfe during the investigation.

Wolfe was one of the coaches who “grabbed the players and pushed or threw them off the side” to break up the fight, Gyurik said.

At one point, Gyurik said that Wolfe, like many others, slipped and fell onto the wet ground. Gyurik said adults began attacking Wolfe after he fell.

“He's got a few cuts and bruises and a sore jaw,” Gyurik said. “We're doing an investigation to make sure everything is legitimate. We want to make sure all the truth comes out on both sides.”

KSP Lt. Bobby Johnson, who heads the investigation with the Pikeville police post, would not publicly comment about the investigation. Johnson said he could not confirm or deny whether charges would be brought against anyone.

County Attorney Keith Bartley said that a “gaggle” of people are investigating the incident. With the number of witnesses and the number of investigating agencies involved - including school boards in both districts, KSP, Floyd County Sheriff's Department and the County Attorney's office - it may take more than a week to find out what really happened.

Floyd County Supt. Dr. Paul Fanning said the incident was unfortunate, but not unusual. He said he's seen parents “go beyond the bounds” at cheerleading elections, academic meets and other extracurricular activities.

Fanning said the players obviously “got emotional” about some type of dispute, and then adults in the stands got involved.

“These things happen,” he said. “If emotions quickly erupt, the kids involved are usually pretty manageable. When adults get involved, it goes to another level.”

Fanning said he is working with principals, superintendents and athletic directors in both school districts to resolve the situation.

“We'll try to deal with it as quickly as possible without creating a bad relationship between both schools,” he said. “I mean, we're talking about middle school students here.”

Gyurik said Wolfe, who has worked at the Morehead post for at least five years, is an excellent employee.

“He is a good trooper who makes good, sound decisions,” Gyurik said. “He never used excess force, no more than any other trooper. His time here has been exemplary.”

Both schools were disqualified from the tournament. The Sebastian Middle School team was leading South Floyd by 28. This season has been one of South Floyd Middle School's best football seasons.

Mike Holcomb, the athletics director for Breathitt County Schools, did not return inquiry calls. His silence was mirrored by Supt. Arch Turner, who also did not return calls.