Police chief punched at Alabama high school football game
Oneonta AL November 29, 2022
Oneonta Police Chief Charles Clifton said he will pursue criminal charges against a man he said punched him in the face following a Friday night football game in Centre.
Clifton, 51 and a 30-year law enforcement veteran, said the ordeal took place at the end of 4A semifinal matchup between Oneonta and Cherokee County High Schools.
Oneonta lost the game 42-21.
Toward the end of the game, Clifton said, a play led to both teams getting a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. It began with an Oneonta player questioning the ref’s call.
Afterward, he said, one of the Cherokee County players claimed he was called a racial slur by an Oneonta coach.
“We have almost exhaustively talked to every individual on our video that we can see and I’ll just tell you, I’m 100 percent certain the coaches didn’t say that,” Clifton said.
“If he had said that, one of the players or parents would have called them out because there was a ton of people on the fence line.”
As parents were waiting for the Oneonta team to load up and leave, Clifton was alerted by another parent that one of his school resource officers – Keith Roddam – needed help.
“He was about 30 yards away and he was surrounded by people, and they were pushing him around,’’ Clifton said.
The chief said he ran over to help Roddam.
At that point, Clifton said, the uncle of the Cherokee County player who alleged he was called a racial slur had “shoved” the school resource officer out of the way and was headed toward the Oneonta coaches.
The uncle, Clifton said, appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol.
“I got in between him and the coaches and said, ‘You’re under arrest’,’’ Clifton said.
At that point, the uncle punched Clifton in the jaw, Clifton said.
“It almost knocked me out,’’ Clifton said.
The suspect, Clifton said, is the husband of a Cherokee County sheriff’s employee. Cherokee County deputies responded but did not arrest the man, Clifton said.
Clifton said he’s not been able to obtain warrants through Cherokee County and said the sheriff’s office has called in SBI to handle the investigation.
Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said he could not comment at this point.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association referred questions to the principals of the two schools.
Cherokee County school officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
“If that word was said, I 100 percent condemn it,’’ Clifton said. But even Black coaches told police a racial slur was not used, Clifton said.
“If somebody would have said that loud enough, I would have heard it,’’ Clifton said.
Clifton said there are multiple videos of the incident.
Clifton said he had to had to go to the emergency room to get a CT scan. He’s distraught over the entire matter.
Clifton said he’s known the man who punched him for many years.
“I’m not mad at him but I want him to know the seriousness and have some consequences of his actions,’’ he said.
“I am absolutely beyond words of how they don’t immediately allow warrants to be issued in the matter and are basically saying it’s OK to punch a police officer in the face.”
The chief said he will meet with Centre police Tuesday to try to file charges through that agency.
“I’m so put off by it. I haven’t been able to sleep,’’ Clifton said.
“I hurt all weekend. I’m 51-years-old and I don’t deserve to be punched in the face over something that I had nothing to do with whatsoever other than trying to keep him off of our coaches.”
“I don’t even have the words to describe how a brother or sister law enforcement agency could just leave you out in the wind like that,” he said.
Clifton posted this about the incident on Facebook:
“I want to thank the Oneonta community for all your calls, thoughts, and well wishes for my department and me after Friday night’s football game at Cherokee County. Myself and SRO Roddam were assaulted by an intoxicated fan after the football game. The suspect was intent on attacking the OHS football coaches over something allegedly said to a Cherokee County High School football player. Everyone, including the suspect, was safe, and no one sustained any life-threatening injury, which is always the goal. While the fan was not arrested immediately, sometimes being prudent is better than escalating a situation. We are pursuing criminal charges against the suspect and are awaiting instruction from the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office. I believe that the Cherokee County Judicial system will do the right thing regarding this matter.
For those parents and fans who observed this altercation, I would like for you to use this as a teaching moment. I sincerely appreciate the civility here in Blount County, Alabama. I value and admire the class and dignity you all display daily. No one should ever take matters like this into their own hands, nor should anyone be attending a sporting event in an intoxicated state.
Lastly, I want to say this to our student-athletes. As always, you are my heroes. I am incredibly proud of every single one of you. You all display the highest levels of dignity and class, which will carry you farther in life than being undisciplined and combative. I am very proud of your football season. It was a disappointing ending, but being a part of you and being taken into this community is something my family cherishes. Keep your heads up, Skins!”
