MASSILLON, Ohio — A 17-year-old Massillon High School football player played in the team’s regional championship game against Archbishop Hoban Friday night—the day after being arrested for the assault of a 58-year-old man, according to the Akron Police Department.
Akron police arrested the teen Thursday for an assault that happened in August.
Police said on Aug. 4, a 58-year-old man was riding his bicycle through a Popeyes parking lot in the 600 block of North Howard Street. The man was approached by the 17-year-old, who punched him in the head.
The man sustained a skull fracture and brain bleed from falling off his bicycle and striking his head on the pavement. He was hospitalized for more than a month and is still recovering from a brain injury.
On Thursday, police arrested the 17-year-old for the August incident and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.
There is no word on a court date at this time, according to Akron police.
The Massillon City School District released the following statement following the teen’s arrest:
The Massillon City School District recognizes that student privacy is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. We will continue to pride ourselves on the consistent application of this student and family centered law.
Despite being arrested Thursday, the 17-year-old was able to play in the Division II regional championship game at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, according to statistics that the Massillon Tigers posted online.
News 5 reached out to the Massillon City School District again after learning the teen played in the championship game the day after his arrest. They replied with their original statement.
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