LOGAN, W.Va. — The Logan County Board of Education has released a statement in connection with the weekend arrest of longtime Logan High basketball coach Mark Hatcher, who allegedly shoved a police officer during a game.
The board said it would be working with authorities “to bring this unfortunate incident to a quick resolution.”
Hatcher was charged with battery on a police officer and assault on a police officer, both misdemeanors. He allegedly had an altercation with a Chapmanville police officer after a fight broke out between players at Friday night’s Logan-Scott game played in Chapmanville. Though the fight started in the fourth quarter, Hatcher was allowed to finish the game.
Hatcher told the Charleston Gazette he went on the floor because a new national high school rule allows him to do so in an attempt to defuse the situation. Hatcher allegedly pushed the police officer who was also on the floor.
Hatcher was taken before a Logan County magistrate and released. He’ll have to appear in court at a later date.
The full statement from the Logan County school system:
“Logan County Schools believes sportsmanship and respect are important to the development of exceptional student athletes. We are uncertain at this time what led to the charges filed again Coach Mark Hatcher because he was neither penalized nor ejected from the game and continued coaching until the game’s conclusion. However, we will be working with authorities to bring this unfortunate incident to a quick resolution. At this time, we have no further comments.”