High School Football Helmet Beating Charges

A high school football player caught on camera pulling off an opponent's helmet then hitting him in the head with it, now faces assault and disorderly conduct charges.

South Annville Township Police announced Wednesday that the Hamburg senior would be charged as a juvenile in the Sept. 6 incident at an Annville-Cleona player. Police didn't identify the player since he is a minor.

The incident was caught on camera leading police to launch a criminal investigation after.

The video shows the Hamburg player tearing the helmet off an Annville-Cleona player then hitting him with it at least twice after a play in the third quarter.

"I was completely stunned and I felt so bad for the kid hit by the helmet," said Melissa Mong, who was in the stands.
 
Several other players pushed and shoved each other, and another Annville-Cleona player jumped in and threw several punches, the video shows.

Both the player seen ripping off the helmet and the player who attacked him were ejected from the game. The player struck by the helmet suffered a cut on top of his head but was otherwise OK.

Order was restored and Hamburg won the game 25-22.
 
South Annville Township police chief Ben Sutcliffe told NBC10's Doug Shimell in the days following the attack that police would interview players, coaches and referees to find out what led up to the incident and if charges were warranted.

"We saw enough that was reason enough for us to open an investigation into what happened on the field," said Sutcliffe.

When asked if anyone else was or would be charges, Sutcliffe said, 'no comment."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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