Newberry coach and parent arrested after allegedly instigating fight at track meet
Staff report
Updated: Nattiel is a Newberry High School coach and parent, not Santa Fe High School.
ALACHUA, Fla. – Melissa Danielle Nattiel, 42, of Newberry, has been charged with child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and disorderly conduct after allegedly instigating a fight among juveniles at a Santa Fe High School track meet in March.
According to an Alachua Police Department officer, Nattiel was at a track meet at the school on March 3 in her capacity as both a parent and an assistant coach for Newberry’s track and field team.
The officer reported that Nattiel’s son, members of the Newberry track team, and two students from another school (the victims) had gotten into a fight, but “tensions had already subsided” by the time Nattiel arrived. According to the officer, Nattiel “reignited the confrontation and escalated the situation by encouraging the two victims to fight her son.” Nattiel allegedly approached the victims aggressively and said, “You are going to fight my son” and told her son, “Go punch that kid.” Nattiel allegedly shoved both victims, and one of the victims reportedly pushed her away in self-defense as other members of the Newberry track team approached.
According to the officer, “This led to a brawl involving students from Newberry, Gainesville, and Eastside High Schools.”
Nattiel has been charged with two counts of child abuse, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and disorderly conduct. Formal charges were filed on July 1, and a warrant for her arrest was issued on July 11. She was arrested on August 2 and released on $40,000 bail.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Questions- was there a SRO present at the track meet for the first fight? Was there a documented report of the first fight? Were parents contacted after the first fight? Did the first fight get sweep under the carpet like other things do at SFHS? Mom is wrong as a parent and coach for starting a fight back up. But there a lot of unknown details about the first fight. But given APD’s track record at SFHS there may be some bigger concerns. It was so much easier when the Sheriff’s office provided SRO for all the schools.
Bear B?
So springs county Karen showed up after everything was done and decided to re-aggravate the situation
Never said she was right. She is wrong. All I am saying what happened with first altercation. Were police involved, was it documented, were parents involved with that one. Remember when Ole Ronny Zook went with his football team to fight a frat and got canned for it. She at least deserves to be fired as a coach.
What is known is those “wheels of justice” turn awfully slowly out that way.
So that’s what it takes to be charged with child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Who’d would’ve thunk it?
Humm is she related to Jeremy of school board fame? Looking to create chaos just for fun.
We’re waiting on Marden to now make her the victim. Investigate the sheriff… don’t we live the free State of Florida?