Surveillance footage shows a coach attacking an Ypsilanti Middle School student

YPSILANTI, Mich. (WXYZ) — The parents of an Ypsilanti middle school student want one of their son’s coaches charged with assault after school surveillance video shows the coach attacking their child from behind and choking him with his shirt.

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“I was angry,” said Steve Moon, the father of a 14-year-old student who did not return to school after Tuesday’s attack.

“They were very close and I was very nervous.” Moon told 7 News Detroit on Monday. “I said if he can do it to Michael, I’d like to see him try to do it to me.”

Michael’s mother, Yolanda Ellis, said she was horrified when she saw surveillance footage the school did not want to show her.

The day it happened, Moon went to the Ypsilanti Police Department to file a complaint. Police later gave the parents a copy of the video.

7 News is not naming the coach because he has not been charged.

Michael told his parents that it started when the trainer, who also serves as the gym monitor, told him to do some push-ups because he was hanging around the hallway.

There is no sound in the surveillance video, but Michael can be seen on his knees and stretching his arms as if he was trying to show the coach something with his hands.

Michael’s mother said her son had injured his hand and was trying to explain why he couldn’t do push-ups.

A short time later, Michael stands up, walks past the coach who was sitting, and enters the classroom.

Ten seconds later, the coach gets up and goes to the room to get Michael.

Once in the hallway, Michael walks in front of the coach as the man takes a shirt, wraps it around his hands and wrists, and then puts it around Michael’s neck. Michael can be seen struggling and his face appears discolored.

The coach will either give up or Michael will manage to free himself.

Michael’s mother said that the principal told her that day that he was disgusted by what he saw and that the person had been terminated.

Michael has not returned to school, and his parents said no school or district officials have contacted them since then to find out how their son is doing.

7 News was unable to reach the coach, who is also listed on the school’s website as a “coach,” for comment.

The family retained attorney Jordan Vahdat, who said he would conduct his own investigation into the assault, as well as any prior problems the coach may have had with other students that would alert the district that the coach may not have been suitable for the job. be around students.

Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross released the following statement on Monday:

The district also sent a letter to parents on Monday warning them of a “serious incident” involving an employee.

The letter to parents said the incident occurred “late last week,” but Michael’s parents said it happened on Tuesday.

The letter makes no mention of the assault or the nature of the incident. Indeed, it says: “…we are committed to continuing to cooperate fully with the authorities involved. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and the student’s involvement, we are unable to provide specific details.”

Michael’s parents and their lawyer hope to hear soon that criminal charges will be filed against the coach.

“It made me lose confidence in the school system.” – said Michael’s mother. “It also made me lose confidence in this coach because he was someone Michael looked up to.”