A Therrell High School assistant football coach was arrested on the field during a game in Temple, Georgia, after police say he ran into the middle of a player fight and assaulted two Temple High School players. Emarde Brown, the linebacker coach for the Atlanta school's Panthers, was taken into custody on the night of September 11 as Temple defeated Therrell 41-6.
According to the WSB-TV report, the Temple Police Department arrested Brown at Temple High School after he allegedly went onto the field once a fight broke out between players. Police said Brown assaulted two Temple High School players during the altercation. He now faces charges of cruelty to children, battery, and simple assault, the station reports.
Brown was booked into the Carroll County Jail the night of the game and was released three days later, on September 14, on a $2,500 bond, per the same account. Police say they are still investigating what led up to the fight and are reviewing video footage submitted by fans who attended the game. Investigators have said additional charges are possible as that review continues.
A Lopsided Game That Turned Chaotic
The fight erupted during a contest that had already turned into a blowout, with Temple topping Therrell 41-6, according to MaxPreps. Local broadcaster Gradick Sports also posted video from the game.
The two schools sit roughly 40 miles apart, according to Rome2Rio. The game was played at Temple High School. D.M. Therrell High School, located on Panther Trail SW in Atlanta, is part of Atlanta Public Schools and serves 997 students. Temple High School, located on Sage Street in Temple, is a Carroll County Schools campus whose teams compete in GHSA Class A Division 1, according to MaxPreps.
What Brown Could Face in Court
The charges against Brown carry a wide range of possible penalties depending on how prosecutors ultimately classify them. Under Georgia Code § 16-5-70, cruelty to children in the first degree is a felony punishable by five to 20 years in prison, while second degree carries one to 10 years and third degree is treated as a misdemeanor on a first or second conviction, according to Justia Law. The WSB-TV report does not specify a degree for the charge.
The battery and simple assault charges are generally misdemeanors under Georgia law, carrying maximum penalties of up to 12 months in jail and fines up to $1,000, per FindLaw. Battery requires actual physical contact, while simple assault can apply even without contact if it involves an attempt or a reasonable fear of violent injury.
Athletic Penalties Separate From the Criminal Case
Beyond the criminal charges, any GHSA or school consequences would be separate from the criminal case.
Whether the GHSA or Atlanta Public Schools will take action against Brown remains unresolved as police continue reviewing fan-recorded video from the game.
