An argument over social media posts led to a fight between an assistant football coach at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach and several students that ended with the coach’s arrest, authorities said.
The now-former coach, 29-year-old Jamir Clarke, was arrested Monday on four counts of child abuse without great bodily harm, Broward jail records showed.
According to an arrest report obtained by NBC6 on Wednesday, the fight happened in a weight room during football practice.
Clarke allegedly struck four students after arguing about social media posts, the report said.
The report didn’t detail the posts but said one of the victims made the “negative” posts and that Clarke became “verbally argumentative” before he started “swinging punches.”
When Broward Sheriff’s deputies arrived they found Clarke in a locker room sitting on the floor “with his legs crossed and the lights off,” the report said.
Clarke was booked into jail and later appeared before a judge, who set his bond at $30,000.
If he posts bond, he’ll have to wear a GPS monitor, can’t have firearms, won’t be allowed contact with the alleged victims or with minors, except family, and won’t be allowed to return to any Broward County school property.
In a message to parents, the school’s principal said the incident happened during practice.
“Law enforcement immediately investigated, and the individual is now facing criminal charges,” the message said, in part. “He will also no longer serve as an assistant football coach at our school – this was his only position on our campus.”
In court on Wednesday, the state mentioned a separate violent attack at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek. Many people shared a video on social media that appears to show Clarke punching a student in the bathroom.
Broward County Public Schools officials said in a statement that the incident happened in early September when Clarke was a campus monitor.
“Earlier this year, there are allegations that Mr. Clarke was physically violent with another student at Monarch High School while he was working there,” the state said in court. “It is concerning now that we have allegations of an incident where he displayed violence towards another student.”
District officials said Clarke was being reassigned while the matter is reviewed for “further action, up to and including termination.”
“We are deeply disturbed by this incident, as the safety and well-being of our students is our number one priority,” the district said in a statement.
Students at the school on Wednesday morning said they were shocked by the incident.
“I heard that someone said his nephew was trash. And then he had punched the student, and then they all jumped in,” sophomore Temee Dallas said.
“It’s just shocking to me, I feel like is school even safe? That’s how I feel,” freshman Kimora Harris said.
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