BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
UPDATED with new information from Sheriff Bill Franklin and witnesses.
A Wetumpka man was arrested Monday night during the Holtville Middle School junior varsity Homecoming game, after allegedly streaking through parts of town, and then attempting to run onto the field. According to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, he talked to the suspect who reportedly told him, “Holtville lost a lot of school spirit during COVID and I was just trying to bring some of that back.”
Eric Adams, 39, was caught and tackled by adults in the back of the south end zone behind the goal post shortly after he ran through the gate according to a witness.
Thank you to Marc Tomokins who sent us additional information concerning the incident.
He wrote, “Danny Guthrie a photographer and videographer for HD9 media was the first one to see Mr. Adams and he immediately ran and tackled the nude man. When Danny took off running, head coach and athletic director of Holtville Highschool Coach Franklin was inches behind Danny. When Danny tackled the suspect he defecated on himself. At this point Kevin Chavis, President of the Holtville Quarterback club, was half way down the field with other coaches screaming for EVERYONE get off the field. Danny and coach Franklin held the suspect down until 3 sheriffs units flew in literally seconds after the suspect was restrained and held down. Mr. Chavis, along with most of the Holtville coaches, made a barrier wall to shield any body part from being exposed. When the sheriffs got there they got the suspect out of eye sight and arrested immediately after comments were made about him being covered in his own feces and mud. Once the incident was over with the announcer Chris Lloyd apologized for the disruption and the game continued.
Also the middle school played their homecoming prior to this game.
This was the Jr Varsity game in which the incident happened. We wanted to clarify the details and the actual event. ( information from all the coaches and staff) We would like to thank Mr. Danny for being so quick on his feet. He was definitely more than a photographer last night, he was our bulldog hero.”
For now, Adams has been charged with public lewdness and violation of bond. As of this morning he remained in custody at the Elmore County Jail. A bond amount was not immediately available.
Sheriff Franklin told the EAN that his deputies received multiple reports of “a streaker” in the Holtville/Slapout area to include residents, businesses and finally fans at the game.
“I think it is safe to say he may have been under the influence of something,” Sheriff Franklin said.
“When I talked to him, I asked him if narcotics were involved in this incident. He said they were not, and he just wanted to encourage more school spirit,” Franklin told the EAN.
We will update this article when if more information becomes available.
