KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - A fired Kansas jail guard who is charged in the beating of a handcuffed inmate has been picked to help coach a high school soccer team.
The Kansas City Star reports that David Toland has been appointed assistant coach for the Bonner Springs High School’s soccer team, district spokeswoman Kaela Williams said in an email.
Toland has charges of felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor mistreatment of a confined person pending. The criminal affidavit said he punched an inmate and slammed the prisoner’s head against an elevator door while he was a sergeant at the Wyandotte County Adult Detention Center.
The inmate was paid $50,000 in an out-of-court settlement, and another sheriff’s office employee also was charged.
Toland has served on the school board for Bonner Springs and Edwardsville since 2013.
“Board members cannot be employed by the district, so the hiring process is not yet complete due to his active status on the board,” Williams said, noting that Toland’s experience as a coach “made him the best candidate.”
This will be the 31st year Toland has coached soccer in the community, he said in Facebook messages.
“I want any parents that have concerns to come talk to me,” he said.
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