Coach Accused of Assaulting Student

HARRISON COUNTY — Hallsville ISD and a Hallsville police officer are investigating a junior high school coach and teacher whom a parent says pushed her son to the ground, busted his lip and choked him. “Safety and security of all Hallsville students, at all times, is a primary concern in this district,” Hallsville ISD spokeswoman Carol Greer said. “We’re aware of this situation and are currently in the process of conducting an internal investigation.”

Though Hallsville ISD officials have said they do not believe there was “malicious intent” involved in the incident and the coach was apologetic, mother Diana Adkins said Friday she won’t stop fighting for justice for what happened to her son. Adkins said Hallsville Junior High School U.S. history teacher and coach Ken Wall pushed her son, 13-year-old Blake Adkins, backward to the ground during a practice Sept. 16 in which the coach and team were “horseplaying.” Wall then injured Blake’s mouth, placed his forearm on Blake’s neck causing him to choke and yelled at him, according to Diana Adkins.