Carlson, One Assistant, Reaches Agreement With DA

Portland police cited three Lincoln High School football coaches, on charges of disorderly conduct, for events following the Ultimate Fighting Championship event August 29 at the Rose Garden Arena. They are scheduled to appear in community court next week, and have also received a 30 day TriMet exclusion.

Lincoln High School head football coach Chad V. Carlson, 38, and assistant coaches Kacy S. Fairfax, 24, and Kyle D. Fairfax, 25, who are brothers, attended the event on what Carlson described as "Kind of a coaching retreat. We were done with daily doubles and we were going out. Nobody wanted to drive, so we took the MAX."

Portland police allege the coaches were intoxicated, uncooperative, and verbally interfered with their investigation of a complaint by an unnamed woman that a 23 year old man had pinched her. The man, also not identified, was reportedly a former high school football player whom the coaches had run into on the MAX platform.

(Updated 09/16, 6:45 PM, 9/17 5:15 PM)

Carlson said he and the other two coaches were not involved in the woman's initial complaint, and that while they had had a few beers about two hours earlier, were not intoxicated. "We were being very responsible, to be honest," Carlson said, and denied that he interfered with the interview of the former football player. “We were just standing by. We then waited about 30 minutes for a train, and Kyle (Fairfax) and I got on. We turned around, and noticed police had Kacy (Fairfax) in handcuffs.”

According to Carlson, Kyle Fairfax ran out of the train, and Carlson followed him. Kyle Fairfax, with his hands up in the air, yelled to the police, "What's happening? What are you doing?" Officers said Kacy Fairfax had been asked to "stay here," but he started to leave with the others, so he was then handcuffed.

Police say they told Kyle Fairfax and Carlson to stay back several times; Carlson said they stopped and didn't make any threatening moves. Carlson describes that he was on the left side of Kyle Fairfax, when an officer unholstered his Taser, and grabbed his pepper spray in his other hand. "I was saying like 'Kyle, get back, get back,' and at that point, the officer just started spraying. I kind of pulled Kyle back and ducked."

Carlson said Kyle Fairfax was sprayed in the face, and he got the spray in one eye and on his right shoulder. Police took Kyle Fairfax to the ground and handcuffed him. Carlson said he walked away at that point, thinking there was nothing he could do. Police followed him, cuffed him and led him back to a police car.

Detective Mary Wheat, a Portland police spokeswoman, said the 23 year old man was listening to police directions, and was not cited. The woman did not press any charges.

Carlson, who is also the Lincoln campus security monitor, said he reported the matter to the school the next day.

Lincoln High Principal Peyton Chapman on Tuesday referred questions to others in the school district. Portland Public Schools spokesman Matt Shelby, said the principal advised the district of the matter on Tuesday. "I understand the school was made aware of it soon afterward, but with the craziness of the start of the school year, it just didn't bubble up to our level until today."

The district's athletic director met with human resource officials Tuesday to discuss the matter, and plan to speak with all involved to determine what, if any, sanctions are warranted, Shelby said.

In the meantime, the three coaches have been placed on paid leave. Shelby said the paid suspensions will remain in effect, pending the outcome of an administrative review of the incident by the school district.

Lincoln High Athletic Director Jeff Peeler announced that assistant coaches Adam Grimes and John Colasurdo will step up to lead the football team in the interim. "We have a job to do Friday night,'' Peeler said, referring to the Cardinal's next game, a road contest at Centennial High School.

This is the third incident in less than a year involving Lincoln coaches under Principal Chapman. In late February, boys basketball coach David Adelman was cited for driving under the influence of intoxicants for the second time since 2005. Then, in April, baseball coach Michael Todd resigned after he allegedly accompanied three of his players to an adult entertainment venue in San Francisco while the team was at a baseball tournament over spring break.

As a result, Portland Public Schools adopted a new coach's code of conduct for this year, requiring year round coaches to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct in all contacts with students, officials and the public.

"The charges are only allegations right now," Carlson's lawyer Chris McCormack said in a statement. "He's innocent until proven guilty. We're hoping that same standard will be applied in the court of public opinion as the court of law." (Editorial note, regardless of the legal outcome, that seems highly unlikely.)

Carlson termed the incident "a matter of miscommunications," and welcomed the district's review. "It's unfortunate, but I guess I’ve learned a valuable lesson, to let police do their business. While there are other things that have happened at Lincoln in the past, we really want to be part of the solution."

Carlson appeard in court Thursday, Sept. 17, to begin implementing a plea agreement his attorney, formerly with the DA's Office, reached. Carlson will perform 8 hours of community service Saturday, and then return to court next Tuesday. At that time, with the community service performed, the single violation charge against Carlson will be dismissed, per the agreement.

Kyle Fairfax also reached the same agreement with the DA's Office.

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