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Alleged victims in parking lot brawl with Eastside Catholic athletes say cops, prosecutors denied them justice

admin — Sat, 09 May 2020 00:31:25 +0000

E-mails reveal there wasn’t a months-long delay in reporting a crime, but actually a months-long delay in police responding to the teens who wished to press charges.

SAMMAMISH, Wash.— Two teenagers who accused four football players from Eastlake and Eastside Catholic high schools of violently assaulting them in an August 2019 parking lot brawl that was captured on video claim police and prosecutors denied them justice.

Rico Martinez and Matt Boczar, two of three alleged victims, said they were disappointed to learn the King County Prosecutor’s Office declined to charge anyone, and a prosecutor for the City of Sammamish dropped a charge of misdemeanor assault filed against one Eastside Catholic player earlier this year. Martinez and Boczar, who were both Issaquah High School students at the time of the Sammamish physical altercation, said prosecutors based their decision on incomplete information they received from police.

“I feel like (the football players) should have got charged because what they did was completely wrong,” said Boczar, who was 17 at the time of the August 23, 2019 brawl.

The city and county prosecuting attorneys on the case each cited several reasons for declining charges, including a lack of evidence, inconsistent information and uncertainty over whether the alleged victims and the suspects acted aggressively in the form of “mutual combat” or “self defense.”

King County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Larson also noted in her decision that there were questions about the alleged victims’ credibility. The case was hampered, she said, because they did not come forward right after the fight. She stated there was a “three-month delay in reporting,” adding that the alleged victims “weren’t willing to cooperate,” so “police couldn’t investigate” until three months later, according to records obtained from the prosecutor’s office.

“It makes me very angry. It wasn’t fair,” said Martinez, who was 18 at the time of the altercation. “We were willing to cooperate right away. It is wrong to say we wouldn’t cooperate. We were telling the truth.”

KING 5 obtained emails which reveal there wasn’t a months-long delay in reporting the crime, but actually a months-long delay in police responding to the teens, who wished to press charges right away.

Four days after the physical altercation, on August 27, Boczar’s father met a King County Sheriff’s Office detective and provided copies of videos of the fight, according to e-mails the parent shared with KING 5. The dad informed the detective that his son and Martinez wanted to press charges against the Eastside Catholic and Eastlake High School athletes. But, e-mails show, police didn’t follow up with the family or interview the alleged victims who sought to press charges until two months later. The father e-mailed police officers about the case 18 times between August 27 and October 13 ⁠— the date a deputy finally arranged to meet with the teens to take their statements and launch an investigation, according to two email threads between the father and members of law enforcement.

“I believe them delaying it, it was a poorly done job,” said Martinez, who was 18 at the time of the alleged assault.

The King County Sheriff’s Office did not include information in its police report about the Boczar family reporting the crime and sharing videos of the incident right after it happened.

Sgt. Ryan Abbott, a public information officer for the King County Sheriff’s Office, didn’t explain why detectives who worked on the case failed to document the actual date the parent provided the videos to police and informed deputies of Martinez and Boczar’s intent to press charges. He said that detectives must prioritize their cases, and they completed this investigation with plenty of time to spare before the statute of limitations for felony assault expires.

“Your question seems to assume that because of the number of times the parent e-mailed us, meant no work was being done. Detectives investigate multiple cases at the same time and receive many e-mails. We could have done much better in communicating with this parent,” Abbott said.

‘He Was Coming At Me In A Very Aggressive Way’

When Boczar and Martinez finally met with police in October 2019, the two alleged victims again shared the videos of the brawl, and they told a deputy that three Eastside Catholic football players and another football player from Eastlake High School physically attacked them and a third teenager in the parking lot of a Sammamish Safeway. Fifty to 75 juveniles clustered around the brawl and a handful of concerned bystanders called 911, according to police records and 911 audio recordings.

The teens said a star Eastlake High School player initiated the fight because the player was upset they’d disrespected someone in his family.

“He was coming at me in a very aggressive way,” said Boczar, adding that he decided to speak out about that night because he doesn’t want the students who fought him to get a pass because of their status as star athletes. “It was scary because all of a sudden you look up and it’s like you just see people punching you, kicking you.”

Cell phone videos, obtained by KING 5, show a group of males, including Eastside Catholic football players, throwing punches, kicking and stomping on two of the three alleged victims from Issaquah High School while others in the crowd attempt to break up the back-to-back fights. At one point, video shows, the third alleged victim also got violent, punching one of the Eastside Catholic students. Two Eastside Catholic players immediately tackled him to the ground, stomping on his head, torso and throwing punches.

An attorney for one of the football players investigated in the case said her client wasn’t an aggressor in the fight; he was trying to de-escalate it by pulling one of the alleged victims back.

The same attorney, plus a parent of another football player involved, criticized the thoroughness of the police investigation, stating police did not interview any of the football players under investigation— only the alleged victims.

The attorney said police also failed to interview enough witnesses. She said there were plenty of students in the crowd who would have confirmed to police that Boczar, Martinez and the third alleged victim all came to the Safeway parking lot looking for a fight. On August 24, 2019, a day after the altercation, Martinez posted a message on Instagram indicating he was ready to fight again.

“I’m coming for all of you, it’s over,” wrote Martinez in a social media post that did not mention who was the message was meant for. The teen admitted he posted a few inappropriate messages “out of anger,” over what happened in the Safeway parking lot, but he still maintained he and his friends are victims of an assault— not the ones who initiated the fight.

Sgt. Abbott, the King County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, said only one witness stayed to talk to police officers on the night of the fight. The other people in the crowd fled the scene and made no attempts to contact police, he said.

Abbott explained that the detective who worked on the case made attempts to interview everyone who was a suspect in the criminal investigation. He said one suspect, who was summoned to the police station by a detective, came with his attorney and declined to provide a statement. Another suspect’s mother “refused” to let detectives speak with her son, Abbot said. He said the detective spoke with the third suspect’s father and learned he was unavailable. The fourth suspects’ mother did not respond when a detective attempted to make contact, Abbott said.

“The detective also went to the school to make contact with the juveniles, but the school told her they didn’t want to talk at school and would rather talk at a different location but we had difficulty making that happen,” Abbott said.

An Eastside Catholic spokeswoman said earlier this week that school administrators didn’t know three of their students were suspects in the criminal assault investigation until reporters brought it to their attention this week. A Lake Washington School District spokeswoman said their district was also unaware of the fight or their student’s involvement.

This is at least the second time in two years that members of the Eastside Catholic’s elite team were suspects in a criminal investigation for allegations of serious crimes, and the private school has faced criticism in the past for failing to hold football players accountable for breaking school rules. Eastside Catholic never opened an internal investigation when four of its football stars were accused in 2018 of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in the bed of a moving pickup truck on public roads.

Casey McNerthey, a spokesman for the King County Prosecutor’s Office, declined an interview request to discuss the lead prosecutor’s decision to decline filing charges. He said she considered multiple factors that led her to reach the decision. In a statement, he applauded the King County Sheriff’s Office’s work on the criminal investigation.

“We commend Sammamish Police on their thorough and fair investigation,” McNerthney said. ”This was not a question of their work, rather the totality of evidence that would be presented in court.”

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Eastside Catholic football stars were investigated for 2019 parking lot brawl

admin — Wed, 06 May 2020 04:52:19 +0000

It’s at least the second time in two years that police investigated players on Eastside Catholic’s powerhouse football team for allegations of serious crimes.

SAMMAMISH, Wash. — On the heels of a 2018 criminal sexual assault investigation involving four Eastside Catholic High School football stars, in 2019, three other athletes on the state championship-winning team were suspects in a different criminal investigation related to a violent altercation outside of a Sammamish grocery store.

Law enforcement records reveal the three Eastside Catholic athletes and another football player from Eastlake High School in the Lake Washington School District were accused of “recklessly and intentionally” assaulting three teenage boys in a Sammamish Safeway parking lot on August 23, 2019, while 50 to 75 juveniles clustered around them and a handful of concerned adult bystanders called 911. A witness reported to cops that “half the Eastside Catholic football team” was in the crowd that night, according to a police report.

This is at least the second time in two years that law enforcement investigated members of the Eastside Catholic powerhouse football team for allegations of serious crimes. The private school’s elite football team is considered one of the best in Washington state — if not the country. The school has won the 3-A state champion trophy four times in the last six years, and its athletes have a track record of landing college scholarships to play Division I football for prestigious universities.

KING 5 is not publishing the names of the football players who were under criminal investigation for the alleged 2019 assault because in each of their cases, prosecutors either declined to file criminal charges or dismissed their criminal case.

Cell phone videos, obtained by KING 5, captured portions of the violent brawl and the chaotic scene in the parking lot. The videos show a group of males throwing punches, kicking and stomping on at least two different boys on the ground while others in the crowd attempt to break up the back-to-back fights. The males involved include not only Eastside Catholic and Eastlake High School students, but also students from school districts across the Bellevue and Issaquah areas. It’s unclear why law enforcement didn’t also investigate the other students seen engaging in the fight.

At least one of the three alleged victims sought medical care at the hospital after the incident, reportedly suffering from a concussion and bruised ribs, according to police.

About two months after the altercation, in October 2019, that alleged victim and another who said he was assaulted provided the videos to police, seeking to press charges against the Eastside Catholic and Eastlake High School athletes.

The King County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation, and the agency’s Sammamish detective analyzed the video clips. She documented in her police report that one of the Eastside Catholic football players appeared to put one of the alleged victims in a “choke hold,” wearing “a smirk or a grin on his face” during the encounter. She said the video showed the same football player and another Eastside Catholic star “violently” kicking another one of the boys in the head and torso.

“I received and reviewed the video of the incident and immediately concluded the level of violence used against (two of the alleged victims) was excessive under the circumstances and was much more than a mutual simple assault,” wrote Jennifer Herr, the lead detective on the case.

Others who reviewed the videos did not interpret the events the same way. An attorney for one of the football players investigated in the case said her client didn’t put the teenager in a choke hold; he was trying to pull a fellow student away to de-escalate the fight. The same attorney, plus a parent of another football player involved, criticized the thoroughness of the police investigation, stating police did not interview any of the football players under investigation— only the alleged victims. The third Eastside Catholic player and the Eastlake High School student involved in the case couldn’t be reached on Tuesday for comment.

After completing a two-month investigation in December of this year, the King County Sheriff’s Office referred the case to city and county prosecutors. Cops recommended two of the Eastside Catholic players be charged with second degree felony assault, and the third Eastside Catholic student under investigation should be charged with misdemeanor assault in the four degree, according to police and prosecutorial records.

Police also thought the Eastlake High School student should be charged with misdemeanor assault, according to their investigation file, but a King County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman said the office never received the paperwork on that juvenile.

County prosecutors declined to file second degree assault charges against the two teens police referred to their office. In February of this year, a Sammamish city prosecuting attorney charged the third Eastside Catholic player with fourth degree assault, but a month later, the prosecutor dismissed the case.

“We commend Sammamish Police on their thorough and fair investigation,” said Casey McNerthney, a King County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman. ”This was not a question of their work, rather the totality of evidence that would be presented in court.”

School Leaders ‘Deeply Dismayed And Concerned’

Eastside Catholic school officials said they knew four of their star football players were under a criminal investigation by the Clyde Hill Police Department for an alleged sexual assault in 2018. But a school spokeswoman said top brass didn’t have a clue about the Safeway assault accusations until reporters brought it to their attention this week.

“The fighting behavior (KING 5) described is not acceptable or aligned with our values,” wrote Karen Hatch, an Eastside Catholic spokeswoman in a statement Tuesday. “We are deeply dismayed and concerned, both by the behavior itself, and that this information is only now coming to light.”

The private school has faced criticism in the past for failing to hold football players accountable for breaking school rules. Eastside Catholic never opened an internal investigation when four of its football stars were accused in 2018 of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in the bed of a moving pickup truck on public roads.

The school’s 67-page code of conduct spells out expectations for all students, including athletes. It reminds students that being an athlete is “not a right, but a privilege,” and it threatens academic suspension or dismissal from extracurricular activities if student-athletes don’t “display exemplary behavior.”

After reporters asked school officials questions about the 2019 altercation, the school’s president sent a letter to the entire Eastside Catholic community Tuesday, in which he called out poor behavior.

“We expect all of our students to treat everyone they come into contact with respect for human dignity,” Eastside Catholic President Gil Piccioto wrote in the letter obtained by KING 5.

He added that he was “deeply dismayed and concerned” that the school only learned about the summer 2019 brawl nine months after it took place.

“It is clear that our communications processes have failed, and that we need to take a hard look at why we were not aware of this sooner,” he wrote. “It is also clear that we need to recommit ourselves to aligning the culture of our school, including all school programs, with our values.”

The president laid out a plan of action moving forward.

“Effective immediately, we have retained a consulting agency to assist us in independently and objectively evaluating our processes, identifying gaps and implementing changes,” Piccioto wrote. “We are absolutely committed to ensuring that the culture of every department, every program, every student and every faculty and staff member is aligned with our values. As a faith-based institution, our community must live our values in words, deeds and spirit and you have my solemn commitment to make it so.”

A Lake Washington School District spokeswoman said they were not aware of the Safeway brawl until KING 5 brought it to their attention. She declined to comment on the status of the Eastlake High School student who was under investigation in the assault case.

RELATED: Four Eastside Catholic H.S. football players suspected of sexual assault in 2018; none charged with a crime

RELATED: Why prosecutors didn’t charge four Eastside Catholic football players accused of 2018 rape

RELATED: Attorneys fight for Eastside Catholic football stars’ scholarships, reputations after 2018 rape accusations

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Fla. youth football coach with arrest history charged after post-game brawl

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 12:04:23 +0000

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A youth football coach in Florida who already had a lengthy police record is charged with multiple felonies after several witnesses told authorities he punched three opposing players during a post-game brawl in New Smyrna Beach.

Larry “Shawn” Cruce, 33, was released from custody following his arrest over the weekend on three counts of child abuse without great harm, Jacksonville’s WJXT reports.

According to WJXT, the incident occurred after Saturday’s youth football game between the Middleburg Broncos and the New Smyrna Beach Cudas.

WJXT reports that witnesses were split on what went down, as New Smyrna coaches, players and parents suggested Cruce was the aggressor. But that’s not how the Middleburg side remembers things happening.

Sporty Thigpen, a mother of one of the players who was at the game, told WJXT that she never saw Cruce hit anyone during the brawl, but she did recall seeing a parent of an opposing player attack Cruce.

“We did not see coach hit any children or parents or anything,” she said. “We did see a parent hit him.”

According to court records obtained by WJXT, Cruce has a history of arrests. In 2003, he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of trespassing on school grounds. In 2004, he was arrested on a lewd and lascivious molestation charge, which was changed to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Youth football fight.
This local coach is accused of punching three players. Concerned parents have questions for a local athletic association.. Story at 7:00.@wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/3FMTRQ1VIl

— WJXT Ashley Harding (@WJXTAshleyH) April 11, 2018

In 2005, he faced grand theft and criminal mischief charges. Then in 2007, he faced charges of grand theft and burglary. Duval County court records also show Cruce was found guilty of burglary stemming from a 2004 arrest.

“You have your kids going to a place where you’re supposed to trust adults, and you have someone who is trying to go after other kids? Not OK,” Michelle Lorditch, who recently pulled her child out of the Middleburg Athletic Association, told WJXT. “If I had done my research, I would have gone somewhere else. Do your research before you stick your kid anywhere.”

Walter Woodard, president of the Middleburg Athletic Association, told WJXT that his organization will have no comment on the incident until the police investigation is completed. He also declined to comment on Cruce’s record.

At one point, a parent told police, she saw Cruce yank an opposing player’s helmet off and punch him in the face.

According to the arrest report, another mother told police she wished to press charges after watching as Cruce punched her son during the melee.

Multiple witnesses told police things got so out of hand that Broncos’ players parents jumped in and physically dragged Cruce off the field.

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Middleburg youth football coach charged in post-game brawl

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 21:59:18 +0000

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Middleburg youth football coach faces multiple felony charges after several witnesses told police he punched three opposing players during a post-game brawl in New Smyrna Beach.

Larry “Shawn” Cruce, 33, of Orange Park, was released from custody following his arrest over the weekend on three counts of child abuse without great harm, Volusia County jail records show.

The incident unfolded immediately after Saturday’s game between the Middleburg Broncos and the New Smyrna Beach Cudas at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex.

Witnesses were split on what went down. Cudas’ coaches, players and parents suggested Cruce was the aggressor. But that’s not how the Middleburg side remembers things happening.

Attempts to reach Cruce were not successful Tuesday. No one answered the door at his home.

Walter Woodard, president of the Middleburg Athletic Association, told News4Jax that his organization will have no comment on the incident until the police investigation is completed.

DOCUMENTS: Read the redacted arrest affidavit for Larry Cruce

The episode began when several players got into an argument after the final play of the game, according to Cruce’s arrest report. Things escalated when a fight broke out on the field.

The Broncos sideline cleared as players and coaches streamed onto the field, a parent told police. At one point, she said, she saw Cruce yank a Cudas player’s helmet off and punch him in the face.

“Their team was winning so I don’t understand why they were so mad,” said Charmaine Winters, the mother of one of the players Cruce is accused of attacking.

That player told investigators he was removing his helmet when he was punched, resulting in an abrasion below his right eye.

Another mother, who told police she wished to press charges, said she too watched as Cruce punched her son during the melee, according to the arrest report.

One of the Cudas’ coaches recalled seeing Cruce punch three players, including one who was hit in the face and another who was struck in the face and throat, the report stated.

Multiple witnesses said things got so out of hand that Broncos’ players parents jumped in and physically dragged Cruce off the field.

What Cruce had to say is unclear. Much of his statement was redacted from the report.

Several witnesses from the Middleburg side said they saw coaches break up the fight. They did not, however, recall seeing any players attacked by a coach.

Alexander Beckett, the league commissioner, said there is footage of the game but noted it does not show Cruce throw a punch. He said he won’t release the video until he’s spoken with his attorney.

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Parent, player arrested after brawl at Lewisville-Hebron soccer game, police say

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:00:21 +0000

A parent and a player were arrested on misdemeanor assault charges Friday night after a brawl during a high school soccer game between Lewisville and Hebron in Carrollton, police said.

Lewisville school district officials were looking into the incident on Saturday, district spokeswoman Amanda Brim said.

A video of the fight, which was posted by The Fan radio host Ben Rogers, appeared to show a brawl between several players on Hebron’s field in Carrollton at the end of the game.

A person who did not appear to be a player then ran into the scrum and threw a punch, and the brawl continued.

According to a news release from Carrollton Police, 18-year-old Diego Hernandez of Hebron High was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury.

The release goes on to say that the father of one of the Lewisville players, 43-year-old Daniel Aguilar Pierce, was also arrested and faces the same charge.

According to investigators, Hernandez hit Pierce’s son during the skirmish and then Pierce went on the field and hit Hernandez.

Pierce declined to comment to WFAA.

The behavior of the students and the fans was “clearly unacceptable,” Brim said. Hebron is also in the Lewisville school district.

Both men were booked into the Carrollton City Jail and were released on bond. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.

The Hebron/Lewisville video sent to me appears to confirm eyewitness accounts that an adult (originally in stands) ran onto the field during the melee & appeared to take a swing at a player. The player’s teammates then came to his defense/retaliated against the adult. Ugly scene pic.twitter.com/uzGNfguiJs

— Ben Rogers (@BenRogers) March 10, 2018

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Player arrested for brawl during high school basketball game

admin — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 09:55:54 +0000

A witness says the players’ bench at the game was extremely close to the stands, and that may have been one factor that led to the fight. (Source: DE Sports Zone/WBOC/CNN)

MILTON, DE (WBOC/CNN) – Three arrest warrants – one for a player and two for fans – were issued after a massive brawl broke out during a Delaware high school basketball game.

Abruptly ending a playoff match, players, coaches and fans began fighting each other in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s Cape Henlopen High School boys’ basketball game.

As seen on video captured at the scene, one fan lands a punch on 18-year-old Cape Henlopen player Randy Rickards, as Rickards’ coach pulls him away.

In another video, taken from a different angle, a police officer can be seen slamming the fan who punched Rickards to the ground.

“We are extremely concerned and disappointed in the environment at last night’s basketball game as well as the ensuing altercation,” said Cape Henlopen Superintendent Bob Fulton in a statement.

A witness says the players’ bench at the game was extremely close to the stands, and that may have been one factor that led to the fight.

Police issued arrest warrants Friday for Rickards and two fans.

Rickards turned himself in to police after learning of the warrant and is charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault.

Police say the two others facing arrest plan to turn themselves in soon.

It’s unclear if the fan tackled by police is facing charges at this time.

Police say they are reviewing videos of the brawl to see if more people will be charged.

State athletic officials say they are working on additional safeguards to prevent future incidents.

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Charges filed in brawl investigation: Cape basketball player arrested, warrants issued for two others – Delaware State News

admin — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 18:15:48 +0000

A police officer restrains a spectator at the Cape Henlopen-Smyrna High Henlopen Conference Northern Division title game Thursday in Milford, where a fight broke out during the fourth quarter. The image is from a video of the brawl. (Delaware State News/Tim Mastro)

DOVER — Milford police arrested a Cape Henlopen player and issued arrest warrants for two individuals following the fight that stopped Thursday night’s high school basketball game between Cape and Smyrna.

Late Friday afternoon, Milford Police announced the arrest of Cape basketball player Randy Rickards, 18, of Milton.

He was charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault.

Authorities said Mr. Rickards immediately turned himself in to law enforcement when he learned of an arrest warrant.

He was presented at Justice of the Peace Court 2 in Rehoboth Beach, where a $1,000 unsecured bail was set.

Mr. Rickards was scheduled to appear at the Kent County Common Pleas at a later date, police said.

Two other arrest warrants were filed and police said further information would be released when available.

Milford Sgt. Robert Masten said Cape Henlopen and Smyrna high schools were both assisting with the investigation.

Delaware State Police and Harrington Police officers also responded to the Thursday night fight and helped Milford officers assigned to the game and other officers who responded from the patrol division.

The contest, which was played at Milford High, was to determine the champion of the Henlopen Conference Northern Division after the Vikings and Eagles tied for the title.

Friday night’s Henlopen Conference championship game, between Smyrna and Woodbridge, was played as scheduled at Dover High.

As is its custom, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association allowed the Milford police and school adminstrations from both Cape Henlopen and Smyrna to investigate the incident and hand out any punishments.

“The DIAA and its membership are working on additional safeguards to help prevent future incidents,” DIAA executive director Tommie Neubauer said in a statement Friday afternoon.

Officials were able to look at a number of videos that were taken of the brawl.

Seaford High Athletic Director Jerry Kobasa, a Henlopen Conference representative, said only one Cape Henlopen player will be disciplined.

“We studied video last night, gave Tommie (Neubauer) our results and the officials said the same thing,” said Mr. Kobasa. “Milford was outstanding with providing video which showed no other players were involved. Milford police did an outstanding job of restoring order.”

He said students from various schools were on tape involved but only one of them was a player.

Cape Henlopen superintendent Bob Fulton also issued a statement on the matter Friday afternoon prior to the Milford police announcing their arrest and warrants.

“We are extremely concerned and disappointed in the environment at last night’s basketball game as well as the ensuing altercation,” he said. “We are committed to addressing negative actions involving any of our students/athletes.

‘We are also committed to working with others to determine what can be done differently in the future so that last night’s events are not repeated. We are currently investigating all aspects of the incident to determine any disciplinary consequences and/or outcomes.”

The incident began with 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter and Smyrna leading 61-34 in the crowded gym.

While Cape Henlopen was returning to its bench after a huddle during a timeout, punches were exchanged between fans in the front row and players.

It quickly spilled onto the court as coaches and administrators tried to restrain the parties involved. Multiple people were thrown to the floor and Milford police officers were seen putting handcuffs on at least one spectator.

Cape Henlopen players were ushered into the locker room as police officers worked to clear the floor. After things settled down, blood was visible on the court and on the wall near the entrance to Cape Henlopen’s locker room.

Prior to the brawl, Henlopen Conference officials and police officers on separate occasions warned the row of spectators seated directly behind the Cape Henlopen bench during the break in between the third and fourth quarters.

Smyrna’s bench was at the other end of the gym and none of its team personel were believed to be directly involved in the fight.

The incident did not have any impact on either team’s standing in the upcoming DIAA state tournament. Cape Henlopen was the No. 1 seed by the tourney’s point system while Smyrna — the defending state champion — was No. 3.

Staff writers Tim Mastro and Craig Anderson contributed to this story.

Reach sports editor Andy Walter at walter@newszap.com

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12 people charged in Clairton-Monessen high school basketball brawl

admin — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 07:34:51 +0000

CLAIRTON, Pa. —

A large fight at a high school basketball game between Clairton and Monessen has resulted in disorderly conduct charges against a dozen people, including six juveniles, police said Friday.

Those being charged range in age from 16 to 31, according to Clairton police.

Disorderly conduct is a summary offense. All 12 people will be notified via summons; they can plead guilty by mail without a court appearance, or plead not guilty and request a hearing. The maximum penalty for an adult is 90 days in jail and a $300 fine.

Two of those people — Andrew Carr, 31, and his twin brother, Andre — told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that they are wrongly charged. The Carrs said they both coach baseball for Clairton, and that they were not part of the brawl.

“I had my 2-year-old son and my 6-year-old son. I hurried up and got my kids out of there before anything occurred. I didn’t want my kids to see that fight like that,” Andrew Carr said.

“I didn’t even step on the court,” he added. “I grabbed my kids, I grabbed their coats, I got out of there. If they actually look at the video, you will see me.”

“I was next to him, grabbing his other son,” Andre Carr said. “He has two kids.”

The brawl broke out near the end of a boys basketball game at the Clairton gym Feb. 6. Police said one Clairton player and one Monessen player hit each other, and the situation quickly escalated to involve some fans who were in attendance.

No assault charges were filed.

“Throughout the course of the investigation, victims who were assaulted were given an opportunity to come forward so that officers can properly charge those responsible for causing injury,” police said. “As of this date, not one victim has come to police.”

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Cape Henlopen player #5 first teen charged in high school basketball brawl

admin — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 05:08:04 +0000

The Cape Henlopen basketball player sporting the #5 jersey, who was spotted in videos on social media kicking a teen in the face during the brawl, is the first of three individuals to be charged following the fight on Thursday night.

According to the Milford Police Department, their investigation resulted in issue of three arrest warrants, and the first of three individuals turned himself in immediately after he learned he was being sought in connection with case.

18-year-old Randy Rickards, of Milton, a Cape Henlopen basketball player sporting the #5 jersey was charged with Disorderly Conduct and 3rd Degree Assault. He was released on $1,000 unsecured bail and is scheduled to appear at the Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date.

Two other individuals are also being sought and arraignments are being made for them to turn themselves into police.

Further information will be released regarding the other two individuals charged as a result of the fight at a later time, according to police who said the investigation is ongoing and both participating schools have been assisting.

In one of the videos circulating on social media that shows the fight Rickards could be seen kicking another teen in the face, that teens Mother spoke out today on the Susan Monday Show, read more.

Stay up to date, set your car radio to Delaware 105.9FM – Listen LIVE

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12 teens, adults charged after brawl at Clairton-Monessen basketball game

admin — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 22:17:07 +0000

Updated 2 minutes ago

A police investigation into a brawl that broke out during a Clairton-Monessen high school basketball game earlier this month has led to charges filed against 12 people, officials announced Friday.

Six teenagers and six adults each face a count of disorderly conduct, Clairton police chief Robert Hoffman said.

“This comes at the recommendation of the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office,” Hoffman said.

Police gave victims who were assaulted a chance to come forward and file charges, but none did, according to Hoffman.

There were no reports of serious injuries in the fracas that at one point reportedly involved as many as 100 people , including spectators who swarmed the basketball court at Clairton Education Center on Feb. 6.

The fight began with one player from each team throwing punches with 4 minutes, 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Within seconds, the situation escalated as fans left the bleachers and piled onto the court, Hoffman said.

Four school police officers and two security guards requested backup from more than 10 municipal police departments — Allegheny County, Elizabeth Township, Glassport, McKeesport, Port Vue, Lincoln, Versailles, Jefferson, Liberty and Elizabeth borough and township police.

Clairton firefighters responded to help ventilate the school after pepper spray was used, the Mon Valley Independent reported. One police officer and one Monessen basketball player had minor injuries.

The incident prompted Clairton City School District to stop selling tickets to fans at games, stating that only players and parents would be allowed to attend amid the investigation.

Pending the investigation into Tuesday night’s basketball game, tonight’s athletic event 2/9/18 will be closed to the public, with the exception of parents & guardians of participating student-athletes. We thank you for your cooperation. #gobears #wpial pic.twitter.com/qElOsEAFlP

— Clairton School (@Clairtonschool) February 9, 2018

Neither the Clairton City or Monessen school districts could be immediately reached for comment.

We are saddened by the incident and remind all those that attend any sporting event (adult and child) that violence will never be the answer.

— Clairton School (@Clairtonschool) February 7, 2018

The juveniles charged with disorderly conduct include one 16-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys from Clairton; and two 16-year-old boys and one 17-year-old boy from Monessen.

The adults facing charges include:

• Devlin Clifford, 18, of Clairton;

• Andrew Carr, 31, of Clairton;

• Andre Carr, 31, of Clairton;

• Barry Floyd, 22, of Monessen;

• John Sanders, 23, of Clairton; and

• Christopher Verlich, 19, of Clairton.

After receiving a bye for their first round, Clairton will play their quarter finals playoff game on Thursday, 2/22. The opponent and site is TBD. No fan tickets will be sold #gobears #playoffs

— Clairton School (@Clairtonschool) February 14, 2018

For our Monessen Fans who are unable to attend tonight’s game due to WPIAL sanctions, you can listen to a broadcast of the game on Trib Live High School Sports Network. LET’S GO HOUNDS! https://t.co/VYjsoK70wH

— Monessen Greyhounds (@monessensports) February 22, 2018

Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 412-380-8514, nlindstrom@tribweb.com or via Twitter @NewsNatasha.

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