ATTALLA — Police say an assistant principal in northeast Alabama, who formerly coached at Holly Pond High School, has been charged with felony child abuse after an investigation into a paddling.

Attalla police Chief Doug Walker tells local media that 32-year-old Nathan Lynn Ayers turned himself in Friday and was released on $5,000 bond. He said the charge followed an investigation into a paddling incident in September at Etowah Middle School.

Ayers coached Holly Pond’s football team before Mike Bates took over the program.

Once the police investigation was complete, the district attorney’s office recommended that Ayers be arrested.

A number for Ayers couldn’t be located Monday, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could comment on the charge.

Attalla City Schools Superintendent David Bowman told local media the school system is still investigating.