Police: No charges for coach who punished students with bear crawls

RED OAK, Texas - The Red Oak Middle School coach who punished tardy students by making them do “bear crawls” on the hot turf will not face any criminal charges.

Alma Gallegos told FOX 4 last week that her 11-year-old daughter was one of several students whose hands ended up blistered and burned because of the exercises.

“Run an extra lap, run an extra two laps,” she said. “Why would you put them on turf? You get on the turf and you let me know how it feels.”

Parents went to the Red Oak Police Department and tried to file criminal charges against the coach, but the Ellis County District Attorney’s Office said the case was “unfounded on all allegations.” It has been closed.

The Red Oak Independent School District is also expected to close its personnel investigation soon. The coach is expected to return to work after taking some time off because of a death in the family.

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