DECATUR, Ga.,None — A fight at a Decatur High School football game landed one parent in jail.
Police arrested 38-year-old Dean Rodney on Oct. 21. He was charged with disorderly conduct.
In a video provided to Channel 2 Action News by the school district, Rodney is seen running onto the field and then shoving a player in the fourth quarter. In two previous clips, that player and his son are seen talking in a confrontational manner.
"The parent felt like his child was being picked on," Decatur Schools Athletic Director Carter Wilson.
Three players were ejected from the game for the fight; two Twiggs County players and a Decatur player. In the third quarter, another Twiggs player was kicked out for a different incident.
"That ejection means they will miss the remainder of that game plus the next game," Wilson said.
Channel 2's Erica Byfield went by Rodney's Decatur home. Initially, Rodney told Byfield he would speak on camera and later changed his mind.
Decatur High School was celebrating homecoming the night of the fight. Byfield talked to students who were at the game.
"Word spread fast and everyone was like, oh my gosh that is crazy," said Maya Davis.
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"I was kind of stunned that a parent would do that," said Joe Bodine.
The game was called off with 8:52 left in the fourth quarter.
"It was in an agreement with the officials and both head coaches that at that point in time, there was no need to continue. Nobody wanted to see a bad situation turn into something even worse," said Wilson.
Byfield left a message for the superintendent of Twiggs County Schools.
"We just do not allow people to leave the stands and enter the playing field for any reason, and at that point in time, the police had to be involved," said Wilson.
Wilson told Byfield the district's security plan worked. As a precaution, Wilson plans to meet with the high school's staff to identify any needed adjustments.