Parent charged with assaulting former Kaiser coach

Gregory Tartamella, a parent of a student at Kaiser High School, has been indicted on charges of assaulting and harassing the school’s former football coach and threatening a vice principal.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Circuit Court on one count of second-degree assault, for intentionally or knowingly causing bodily harm, and one count of harassment against then-head coach Arnold Martinez.

Tartamella also is charged with first-degree terroristic threatening against Vice Principal Kevin Dias and with harassing Nick Hironaka, a school security attendant.

The charges stem from an incident after school hours Sept. 18 that prompted police intervention. Tartamella was later arrested, and court records show that he is free on $11,000 bail.

The indictment by the grand jury was filed Nov. 30.

On Sept. 19, the day after the altercation, Principal Justin Mew announced the cancellation of the rest of the football season for both junior varsity and varsity teams, citing concerns for students and staff safety. The Cougars had played just one game due in part to low turnout.

Martinez stepped down as football coach in late September, saying he was concerned about the emotional, mental and physical well-being of his wife and children. He is on leave as a teacher.

Mew said Martinez had worked to hold students to policy expectations including work ethic, behavior and codes of conduct.

“Holding to policy is really what is in the best interests of students, their safety as well as their character,” Mew said Friday.

On Nov. 20, Timothy Seaman was named to head Kaiser’s football program for the next season. A 1979 Kaiser alumnus, he has been teaching physical education for more than 30 years at the school and has coached football and track.

“I look forward to working with the school community to rebuild our football program,” Seaman said.

The first meeting for next year’s football program was held recently, and at least 86 interested students attended, according to Mew.

“It looks like Kaiser students decided we better come out and put this ship back on the right path,” Mew said. “The kids are coming out.”