King College tennis coach Chris Bartlett, who the school confirmed Tuesday is no longer leading the program, was arrested on Jan. 16 in Bristol, Tenn., on misdemeanor charges of public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest, according to police and court records.
Bartlett, 36, was found by police at 3:26 a.m. on the back porch of 412 Valley View Drive after neighbors called in a report of a suspicious person, wrote Bristol, Tenn., police officer Paul Trivette in his affidavit of complaint filed with the Sullivan County General Sessions Court.
According to the affidavit, Bartlett “did not know” whose residence he was at, had slurred speech and smelled strongly of alcohol when questioned by police.
The Valley View Drive location where police found Bartlett is a little more than a half-mile from the address listed for the coach on his arrest report.
After Bartlett admitted, the affidavit states, that he had consumed “a few alcoholic beverages” that evening, officers arrested him for public intoxication and found a “marijuana pipe in his front coat pocket” while searching him prior to putting him in the patrol car.
Following the search, Bartlett “attempted to jerk away from [the arresting officers] and refused to comply with getting in the patrol vehicle,” Trivette wrote.
“Bartlett then had to be physically taken to the ground to gain control of him,” the affidavit continued.
Bartlett did not answer his phone Wednesday afternoon, but did later respond to a message left earlier in the day on his Facebook page.
“I am sorry I missed your call earlier,” Bartlett wrote. “Yes, I did resign my position as Head Tennis Coach at King College. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to discuss this matter further. Thank you for understanding.”
In a meeting Wednesday afternoon with Dave Rutherford, King’s interim athletic director, and Rob Littleton, the school’s vice president of student affairs, Littleton said he could not give details regarding Bartlett’s departure from his tennis coaching position.
“We can’t talk about any HR issues or any employment matters so there’s really nothing that we can tell you, but we would be glad to talk to you about other opportunities going on here,” Littleton said.
Sports Information Director Gene Renfro wrote in an e-mail Tuesday that Greg Lumb had replaced Bartlett as the coach for both the King men’s and women’s tennis teams on an interim basis.
Littleton would not say precisely when the school and Bartlett officially parted ways, only saying that the coaching switch occurred “last week.”
He also would not comment on whether Bartlett could return to his job if he is found not guilty of his charges, but added that King has already begun work on hiring a permanent replacement.
“We’re conducting a national search for the tennis coach,” Littleton said.
The King tennis teams began their spring seasons Wednesday with both the men and women losing to Division I Wofford.
Bartlett, who was in the midst of his fifth year as the King coach, is scheduled to appear in court on March 9 at 1:30 p.m.
nhubbard@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Hubbard_BHCSprt | (276) 645-2543
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement