Youth Football Coach Arrested After Throwing Player To Ground: Reports

SOUTH FULTON, GA — A youth football coach was arrested after media reports said he slammed a player to the ground during a practice, knocking the boy out.

Coach Jonathan Richard Sagers was arrested by South Fulton Police on a felony charge of cruelty to children after officers say he intentionally slammed a boy onto the ground during practice at Old National Field Sept. 8.

The 12-year-old was airlifted to Grady Hospital and later released, WXIA reported.

The police report said Jonathan Richard Sagers grabbed the 12-year-old boy with both hands near his shoulder pads, picked him up and slammed him into the ground.

Sagers firt told police he was showing a technique to the boy “where he grabbed his shoulder pads and threw him to the ground,” an incident report from South Fulton police said.

Cedric Alexander, South Fulton Public Safety’s interim managing director, said Sagers later admitted to a “verbal and physical altercation” with the child, Atlanta News First said.

Sager said the boy then got up, walked away and continued having practice with the other kids, according to the police report.

Another player on the team told police Sagers and the boy “exchanged words and began arguing with each other.” When the boy walked away, Sagers grabbed him and threw him on the ground, Atlanta News First said.

The witness said Sagers then “began taunting” the boy while he was on the ground.