Austin High School students speak out against baseball coach accused of assault

Austin, Texas – Austin High School students say they are shocked to learn that longtime head baseball coach Billy Brown is charged with assault and is accused of kicking a student in the face last Tuesday.

“I think it really crossed the line,” said younger Nelms Maury.

Brown was arrested on Tuesday.

“I was a little surprised. You know, Coach Brown has been around for a long time,” Mori said.

CONNECTED: Austin High School baseball coach arrested on suspicion of assaulting student

According to the arrest statement, Brown attempted to prevent the 18-year-old from entering the school through the sports entrance. Brown claims the student did not have ID.

“We have to wear ID cards when we go to school, and a lot of kids don’t wear them,” Mori said.

According to the affidavit, surveillance video shows “Brown walking for [the student] and uses his right hand to grab [him] behind, behind the collar of the collar … Then Brown puts his left hand behind the student’s neck, throws the student’s body back and tries to knock him to the ground … “

Below you can read the statement of arrest:

The affidavit states that another coach who was close to Brown caught the student before he hit the ground. Another coach then attempted to separate Brown from the student, and that’s when, according to police, surveillance video surfaced showing Brown kicking the student in the face.

“I think it’s good that there’s more evidence for this than just ‘he said, she said,'” Maury said.

Police say the student had a large scratch on his shoulder, as well as bruising, pain and swelling of his eye.

“This infuriates me. To be honest,” Austin resident Tyler Ferguson said.

Ferguson walks his dog next to a baseball field. He says he’s seen coaches being tough on students, but nothing like that.

“You know, if I ever witnessed something like this in the future, I would stop it,” Ferguson said.

In a new statement on Monday, Brown’s lawyer Rick Flores defended his client’s actions, saying:

“Austin ISD maintains a strict security policy that prohibits unidentified visitors from entering school buildings through exterior side doors. This particular person did not have the required ID, nor did he introduce himself as a student. He threatened Coach Brown and then, after being told to go to the main entrance to the school, he tried several times to enter through that side door. He eventually made his way into the school through that forbidden door, at which point Coach Brown was in action.

Austin ISD teachers are instructed and receive special training by the district not to allow unidentified visitors to enter the school through the outer side doors.

Imagine a scenario played out like this: An unidentified person walks up to a side door, doesn’t have an ID that all students and visitors must show, doesn’t say who he is, insists on entering the school through that side. door, threatens the teacher and still enters the school through that door after being told several times to go to the front of the school. But this time, the teacher neglects his teaching and just lets this person in. And then something terrible happens like Uvalde. Or Sante Fe. Or Parkland. Or Sandy Hook.

“Coach Brown was a big guy. The school and, I mean, the baseball team loved him very much. I have friends who play baseball and they said they were very sad that this happened,” Maury said.

But Maury says if the allegations are true, “I think he should stay away from Austin High.”

Brown was released on $2,000 bail. He still works at Austin High School but has been suspended from his duties for now.

FOX 7 contacted Austin ISD as well as AHS director Dr. Melvin Bedford but received no response.