Bartow (Fla.) head football coach arrested for inappropriate behavior toward students

Bartow (Fla.) head football coach Tyler Eden has been arrested for alleged inappropriate behavior towards several female students at the school, according to a report from a FOX13 News.

Per the report, the charges includes: lewd offense against a student by an authority figure, lewd and lascivious touching of a minor, and voyeurism.

“It’s unconscionable that an educator and coach would engage in this kind of behavior with students. This individual has shown that he cannot be trusted, and deserves to face justice for his actions. We commend the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation, and for taking action to protect students,” Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid released a statement according to the FOX13 report.

The alleged behavior began earlier this month, and was brought to the attention of the school by a parent, who claimed that Eden had started inappropriate conversations with their daughter. According to the report, the student helped Eden with errands for the athletics department for community service hours. Soon after, the inappropriate behavior began. He allegedly made comments about having intercourse with her, as well as unzipping her jacket in one instance and handing her a t-shirt after the fact. After the incident, he reportedly told her not to tell anyone what happened, but she made her parents aware that night.

Multiple other teenage girls came forward in the following days, also accusing Eden of making sexual innuendos. He has since been arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, but no official word on his dismissal has been released by the school or district.

“Not only is this highly inappropriate behavior by a teacher, imagine just how frightened this student was,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement, per the report. “Here was the head football coach who was already discussing lewd behavior, unzipping her clothes, then following her into a locker room where he remarked there are no cameras, and complimenting her undergarments. This guy is a total creep, and now he’s going to jail. We are not going to tolerate anyone – especially school teachers and coaches – preying on our children.”

Eden has been the head coach of the Yellow Jackets varsity football team the last two seasons, compiling an overall record of 13-10 overall.