COTTAGE GROVE (AP) — A Minnesota high school gymnastics coach is on paid leave after police cited him for tattooing a minor without her parents' permission.

Thirty-eight-year-old Terry Robert Hardy is the head gymnastics coach at Park High School in Cottage Grove. A man told Hastings police last week that Hardy had tattooed the man's juvenile daughter twice without his consent.

Police cited Hardy for two counts of misdemeanor assault.

In a statement, the South Washington County school district says Hardy is on leave pending further investigation. The statement says he also was fired from his post as gymnastics coordinator for a district community education program.

Hardy says he would not comment on "false accusations."

Hastings City Attorney Dan Fluegel says a court appearance is not scheduled yet.

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