North Carolina Man Seen Tackling Son's Wrestling Opponent in Viral Video

2016 U.S. Olympic Team Wrestling Trials - Day 1

A high school wrestling match turned into what looked like a preview for a WWE event after the father of a North Carolina high school wrestler tackled his son's opponent right in the middle of the match and body-slammed his son's rival to the floor, leading to his arrest, officials said Tuesday.

The incident began Saturday afternoon while wrestlers from Southeast Guilford and Hickory Ridge High Schools were engaged in a match. At one point, the Guilford wrestler used an illegal move to pick up and throw his Hickory Ridge opponent to the mat. The official reset the two wrestlers, but before the match could resume, Barry Lee Jones, the father of the Hickory Ridge wrestler, allegedly tagged in on the match and tackled the Guilford athlete.

Video shows pandemonium erupt on the mat as several other adults present at the match rushed at Jones, with one man seen tackling and pinning Jones to the floor.

Jones was arrested and charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, both of which are misdemeanors, Kannapolis police said. Jones was released after posting $1,000 bail.

A letter from parents of Hickory Ridge wrestlers was sent to the Southeast Guilford High School wrestling program, apologizing for Saturday's disruption.

"We are in shock, horror and disbelief by the inconceivable action of one parent on a wrestler. We don't understand it nor would we ever condone it," the letter sent to the Hickory Ridge HS wrestling group reads.

"Though our parents review the HRHS code of conduct in pre-season mandatory parent meetings, this parent chose to disregard the code and, for that, we are ashamed. His action does not reflect the beliefs of the parents or the HRHS wrestling program. To the parents of the wrestler who was tackled — we wholeheartedly apologize."

The 17-year-old who was body-slammed by Jones was not injured in the exchange.

Photo: Getty Images


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