Who is Carl Sledge? Georgia high school football coach punches player in gut during game against rival school
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Carl Sledge, a 48-year-old high school football coach, has been arrested after shocking footage showed him punching a young student-athlete in the gut during a game against a rival high school.
The horrific incident, which was caught on camera during the PeachtreeTV broadcast, reportedly took place during a game between Benjamin Mays High School and Douglas County High School at Eddie S Henderson Stadium on Saturday, August 26.
Earlier this week, Seth Coleman, a spokesperson for Atlanta Public Schools issued a statement about the incident, stating that Sledge would be charged with simple battery, disciplined administratively, and removed from his post as a lay coach for Benjamin Mays High School.
The statement also noted that he did not hold a position as a classroom instructor of any kind. An arrest report later confirmed that Sledge was originally a professional truck driver, who has now been charged with simple battery. His bond was set at $5,000, according to Law and Crime.
Why did Carl Sledge punch the player?
It is currently unclear why Sledge punched the student but footage, obtained by Atlanta First News, showed him aggressively moving toward the player, who was still wearing a helmet.
In the video, Sledge was seen yelling at the athlete before swinging his hands down and appearing to sock the boy hard in the stomach with his right hand.
As Sledge walks away, he can still be seen yelling as the student doubles over briefly before steadying himself and resting his hands on his hips as if to catch his breath.
The coach was promptly removed from the game after the event, which happened during the first quarter of the game.
Protest against Benjamin Mays High School coaches
Notably, this is not the first time that Benjamin Mays’ coaches have been accused of an offense. Previously, one mother whose son plays on the team for Benjamin Mays had voiced her concerns over the mistreatment of student-athletes.
Parthena Stokes said coaches at the high school “work the kids to death” and that when players try to speak out about the verbal and physical abuse they face, retaliation follows.
Stokes claimed that after witnessing the shocking incident this past weekend, her "mouth fell open" and she got enraged, even though she didn't find it surprising.
“I want to make sure they have done background checks on all the coaches,” she told Atlanta News First. According to Stokes, the school has rotated coaches so often, it’s hard to keep track of who is on the field.