Michigan parents outraged after video shows their son being attacked by coach: “I was horrified”

YPSILANTI, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – A former track and field coach is under fire after surveillance video emerged showing him attacking a Ypsilanti Middle School student last week.

The student’s mother, Yolanda Ellis, said the incident involving her son left her completely shocked.

“My first reaction when I saw the video was I was horrified,” Ellis said. “I couldn’t believe that this coach would do something like that to him. What I feel now is that I feel let down.”

The student said his coach told him to do push-ups last Tuesday and he was unable to follow the instruction due to an injury. He said at that moment the coach launched an all-out attack, choking him from behind with his shirt.

When the school refused to release the footage to the student’s parents, they went to the police station and received the video directly from detectives.

Even more disturbing, said Steve Moon, the student’s father, is that in the days since the video surfaced, several other parents have come forward claiming to have experienced similar attacks.

“I’m just very upset and angry,” Moon said. “It’s a disappointment that this man that Michael (my son) looked up to let him down like that. He was the last person I would have expected to do something like that to him, and on the other hand, Michael is the last child that deserves something like that.”

In a statement, the school said it is cooperating with law enforcement in the case. Officials also reminded parents that student safety is always the top priority.

“This is abuse. We send our children to school to learn and we expect them to behave. On the other hand, we also expect the teachers and staff to behave,” Moon said.

Although the coach was relieved of his position, the student’s parents said Ypsilanti police have not taken further steps to file charges against the former coach.

“It’s a disappointment to me that my son has been let down like this. I feel like the prosecutors have let me down, I feel like the school system has let me down,” Ellis said. “The whole situation is causing me great concern.”