East Rowan High School baseball coach Jeff Safrit was charged Wednesday with misdemeanor assault on a female.
According to a warrant issued for Safrit’s arrest, the teacher and coach “unlawfully and willingly did assault and strike a female person by inappropriately kissing her about the neck.”
Rowan-Salisbury school officials previously suspended Safrit with pay but have not commented on the nature of the case.
Sheriff’s officials called Safrit, 45 of 125 Stone Haven Court, at home Wednesday and asked him to come to the magistrate’s office to be served.
Safrit came to the magistrate’s office with his attorney, Cecil Whitley, and was then released on a written promise to appear in court later.
Contacted this morning, Safrit said he did not want to comment.
Sheriff’s Lt. John Sifford said that during an investigation by Sheriff’s Detective Richard Davis, only one girl came forward.
“We don’t expect further charges in the near future,” Sifford said.
Sifford said the girl told her parents about the alleged assault, and her parents reported it to the Sheriff’s Department, Sifford said. The warrant doesn’t say when or where the alleged assault occurred, and Sifford wouldn’t elaborate.
Safrit graduated from East Rowan High School in 1975. He coached and taught at South Iredell High before returning to East to become head baseball coach. Safrit coached East’s 1995 baseball team to the State 3A championship.
Assistant coaches Guy Wirt and Derry Steedley are running baseball practices in Safrit’s absence.
Contact Cortney L. Hill at 704-797-4249 or chill@salisburypost.com
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