Roswell cops issue warrants for wrestling coach

The Roswell Police Department has issued arrest warrants for a former Florida high school wrestling coach, accusing him of molestation.

John Hackney, a former youth wrestling and high school wrestling coach from north Brevard, Fla., remained at large Saturday, according to Roswell police spokeswoman Lisa Holland.

Hackney, 51, is accused of molesting youths during a stopover at a hotel in Roswell last month. The youths had attended an Amateur Athletic Union wrestling camp at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., and was returning to Astronaut High School in Titusville, Fla., when they made the stopover in Roswell, according to a report in Florida Today.

Holland said that when the alleged incidents were reported to Roswell police, the agency asked the Titusville Police Department to investigate the allegations. Titusville authorities recently reported its findings back to Roswell and arrest warrants were issued, Holland said.

The spokeswoman said more information would be released after Hackney is taken into custody.

According to Florida Today, Hackney had more than 20 years of teaching experience in the Brevard County school district, most recently as a special education instructor. He resigned from the district on July 31.