A woman in Laurel County, Ky., has is facing criminal charges after she allegedly attempted to strangle a high school football player during a game.
According to WMTY, officers were dispatched Oct. 30 to the Wayne County Hospital emergency room for an assault report. Police met with a Wayne County football player who was being treated for injuries sustained during the team’s matchup against North Laurel High School.
“From what I understand she ran toward the action. And somewhere in that scuffle, she grabbed one of the Wayne County athletes by the back of the neck and began choking him and shaking him,” Monticello assistant chief Joshua Smith said.
The suspect, Kayla Barrett, 36, of East Bernstadt, was identified and arrested on Nov. 3.
“High school athletics should be an environment where student-athletes can compete safely, without fear of violence or intimidation,” the Monticello Police Department said in a statement. “While emotions can run high during competitive sporting events, there is absolutely no justification for physical violence against players, coaches, officials, or spectators.”
Officials with the Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) told FOX 56 News on Wednesday that “anything that happened after the game” was outside of the organization’s legal jurisdiction.
“Both schools are to be commended for their cooperation in helping resolve any issue,” association officials said.
