Huntington Beach High School student Cody Pine who defended blind classmate is SUSPENDED

Home Top

Having a ball! Stunning Michelle Obama and pregnant Priscilla Chan steal the show - as the titans of Silicon Valley and Hollywood gather for spectacular state dinner in honor of Chinese leader
EXCLUSIVE: Another FOUR women accuse Saudi prince of sex crimes after neighbors saw 'bleeding woman trying to climb out of his $37m Beverly Hills compound'
Go to Mars and back on ONE tank of fuel: Student creates radical ion drive system that he says outperforms Nasa's engines
Now MORE Hillary Clinton emails surface - between her and disgraced general David Petraeus - after she swore she turned over 'all of them'
Michael Sam says he 'would still be in the NFL' if he hadn't come out after stepping away from the Canadian Football League
First women to pass Ranger School were given extra training and lowered benchmarks after general vowed 'at least one of them will pass', report claims
Germany in a state of SIEGE: Merkel was cheered when she opened the floodgates to migrants. Now, with gangs of men roaming the streets and young German women being told to cover up, the mood's changing
Syrian rebel commander who completed a US training program admits to giving military equipment to an al-Qaida affiliate
United passengers 'disgusted' to find a FULL sick bag in their seatback pocket that spilled all over them
At least a dozen fake doctors performed botched surgeries on patients in elaborate $150M fraud scheme that spanned a decade
Super blood moon eclipse will not herald the end of the world this weekend, says Mormon Church after apocalyptic warnings from Doomsday pastor
The heavens smile down on Pope Francis: Dozens of 'rainbows' appear above New York as huge crowds flock to see the Pontiff
EXCLUSIVE: Little girl who begged Pope Francis to let her illegal immigrant parents stay in the U.S. is going to Philadelphia to see him AGAIN
The pope honors the 3,000 9/11 victims with interfaith ceremony in the foundations of the fallen Twin Towers
Holy water: Congressman steals Pope Francis' glass after White House address to sip remaining liquid with his wife - and then saves some to sprinkle on his grandchildren
Pope urges the end of nuclear weapons and protection of the unborn as he lectures world leaders about global warming, Christian persecution, drug trafficking and a 'Pandora's Box' in abusing the UN
An 'overwhelming' crowd of 80,000 people gathers to see the Pope in Central Park ahead of his huge mass at Madison Square Garden
Are you one of life's worriers? Your parents could be to blame for passing on anxiety through their genes
'I started having sex to pay back my student loans': Six escorts lift the lid on their lives since Rentboy.com was shut down
Manhattan heiress leaves $50,000 to each her nail technician, hairstylist and doorman in extensive handwritten will
Top NY prosecutor, 35, found guilty of choking woman in Halloween bar brawl while he was dressed as Superman
Mother 'murders her 17-year-old son as they move out of their home': Woman accused of shooting teen in the back as they packed up their house because of money problems
Delta Air Lines flight from Baltimore to Atlanta delayed after escaped TARANTULA was spotted by baggage handlers
Aaron Sorkin hits back at Tim Cook in row over Jobs film: Director says CEO has 'a lot of nerve' and accuses him of having 'a factory full of children in China assembling phones for 17 cents an hour'

Teen was hailed as a hero for stopping blind classmate being beaten up
Huntington Beach High School student floored bully with a single punch
Unnamed bully was today arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery
But he was rewarded for his bravery by being kicked off football team

Published: 21:48 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 08:47 EST, 25 September 2015

1.2k

View
comments

A California teenager who rushed to help a blind classmate being beaten up by a bully has been kicked off the football team.

The high school junior was hailed as a hero for intervening after he saw the 'visually impaired' student being repeatedly hit round the head during lunch break at Huntington Beach High School, California on Wednesday.

Footage, filmed by a bystander, shows the teen knocking the bully to the ground with a single punch to stop the attack.

Bully: The visually impaired student (pictured cowering) was being hit around the head by his bully (in the hat) before teen intervened

He leaves the boy lying bleeding on the ground while he checks on the visually impaired victim, before turning back to the attacker and asking him: 'You trying to jump a f***ing blind kid, bro? What the f*** is your problem?'

The unnamed bully was today arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery and released to his parents, according to Huntington Beach Police.

Police officer Jennifer Marlatt told My News LA the incident did not appear to have any connection with the victim's disability but said Austin and his attacker 'have a history of not getting along'.

The officer said the argument had begun after the victim walked past his tormenter, and quickly escalated into a physical fight.

'Another student saw the fight and intervened to prevent the suspect from further assaulting the victim,' Marlatt said in a news release.

Students told KCAL9 the visually impaired student was attacked for no reason.

Grant Morels said: 'I saw like a half circle around a group of kids and I wanted to see what was up. And I see this kid like getting wailed on by another kid.'

No arrest is expected for the intervening teen who has been praised by his peers and online for standing up for his classmate.

But his school took a different approach and are believed to have kicked the have-a-go-hero off the football team after he breached their 'zero-tolerance' policy on violence.

Footage, filmed by a bystander, shows the school 'hero' knocking the bully to the ground in a single punch to stop the attack

A petition to get him reinstated on the team has now been launched online, which stands by the high school student's actions.

The campaign's website states: 'We believe (the teenager) should be back on his football team and back in school where he belongs. While violence is never the best option what Cody did to defend his friend and classmate was justified.

'And schools 'zero-tolerance' policies out even the person saving disabled friends.'

The petition has now had more than 1,000 responses with many criticizing Huntington Beach High School's decision.

Jeff Smith wrote: 'Great job! Our future is in good hands because of young men such as yourself, Don't sacrifice your morals for something as petty as football. If they don't allow you back on the team it will be their loss. Leaders continue to lead even when nobody is looking.'

Another commenter said: 'The hero did the right thing. Don't punish a kid for doing the right thing!!!!'

Mike Hallen said: 'The day you punish people who protect the helpless is the day you've lost humanity. Don't be STUPID!'

The bully is left lying bleeding on the ground while the teenager checks on the visually impaired victim

He turns back to the attacker, asking him: 'You trying to jump a f***ing blind kid, bro?' the teen says, hovering over him. 'What the f*** is your problem?'

Huntington Beach High School are believed to have kicked the have-a-go-hero off the football team after he breached their 'zero-tolerance' policy on violence

Dawn Wentland called on the school to reconsider and treat the junior like the 'hero he is'.

'I don't care what the policy says. Its self defense via a bystander. To beat a blind kid and get to play the victim card. Cost another kid his education. That boy is a hero. Treat him like one.'

However, Huntington Beach High School district officials stuck by their move and said they could not accept violent behavior from any student.

Police were alerted to the incident after shocking footage of the fight, which showed the unnamed teen repeatedly beating his blind classmate around the head, went viral.

The 30-second video ends with a warning the bully: 'I swear to God, if you f--- with this kid again, I will f*** you up.'

It has now been viewed nearly 480,000 times on YouTube, where commenters praised the teen.

'This hero is what I imagine Captain America was like in high school!' one person wrote.

Huntington Beach High School district said it was reviewing the incident.

'The school is now responding to this isolated incident by interviewing students and witnesses to determine exactly what happened,' the district said in its statement. 'Additionally, the school is working with local authorities to define the appropriate actions necessary once all of the information is collected.

'Huntington Beach High School firmly believes that all students are afforded an opportunity to learn in a safe and secure environment. Because of this, safety is the highest priority,' the statement said. 'Huntington Beach High School has a very strong anti-bullying code of conduct and will not condone this type of behavior from any student.'