Father Grabs Son By Neck, Kicks High School Football Coach: Police

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — A father has been charged with child abuse after being accused of grabbing his son by the neck during a Tarpon Springs High School football practice Thursday.

According to Tarpon Springs police, around 2:40 p.m., police received a call about an assault in progress at the football field at 1411 Gulf Road. Tarpon Springs. When they arrived, they found a football coach restraining a man on the ground near the football stadium.

Police determined that a football practice was taking place and one of the players, a 17-year-old boy, was sitting on the bench due to a prior injury. His aunt has had temporary custody of the 17-year-old since July 20 due to a legal matter that will be heard in court.

According to police, the boy's biological father began yelling at the students for not participating in the practice. At one point, the football coach and other witnesses saw the father pulling on his son with his hands around the child's neck.

The coach left practice and approached the father, ordering him to get his hands off the boy. At that point, the father released his son and kicked the coach, police said. The coach then attempted to restrain the parent by wrestling him to the ground and holding him there until police arrived.

The father, whose name has not been release, has been charged with one count of child abuse. Police said the football coach declined to press charges against the father for kicking him.