Coach charged after allegedly injuring student

OVERTON — An Overton ISD coach has been taken into custody and is facing allegations of causing harm to a student during a basketball practice. According to a probable cause warrant from Rusk County, the victim allegedly performed a basketball play incorrectly, resulting in an injury inflicted by Head Girls Basketball Coach Zachariary Griffin.

Surveillance footage captured Griffin approaching the student, where he grabbed and twisted her ear, forcing her head to the left. While still holding her ear, he reportedly moved several feet around the basketball court and aggressively twisted both of her ears, causing the victim to stand on her tiptoes. A teacher, who witnessed the incident, approached the victim to see if she was okay, but the victim kept crying in pain. The document states that the girl then informed her parents that her ears were burning, appeared bloodshot and had experienced pain throughout the day.

“He holds her in this position for 15 seconds and releases her left ear and walks her to a spot in the basketball court before he finally lets go of her right ear, which he held for a total of 25 seconds,” the document reads.

Our news partner KETK contacted the school district, which confirmed they were aware of the situation and stated they are cooperating with the investigation. The coach has resigned and will no longer be permitted on campus during regular school hours.

Griffin was booked into the Rusk County Jail on Thursday and has since been released.