The two suspects turned themselves in, while a third suspect is still wanted in the fight that broke out between fans and Cape players at the division title game between Cape and Smyrna at Milford High School.

Staff Report

An 18-year-old Smyrna man has turned himself in to police as one of three suspects in the fight at the boys basketball game between Smyrna and Cape Henlopen Thursday at Milford High School.

During the fourth quarter of the Northern Division title game, a fight broke out behind the Cape Henlopen bench and then spilled onto the court. The game was stopped. Smyrna, leading 61-34, was declared the winner.

On Monday, Tahraan Hughes, 18, of Smyrna, turned himself in to Milford Police Department. He was was charged with disorderly conduct, police said. He was presented at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on $500 unsecured bail while awaiting another court appearance.

As part of his bail conditions, Hughes was prohibited from attending any high school basketball games in Delaware and he is to have no contact with any Milford School District property.

He was ordered to appear in Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date reference to this case.

A Cape Henlopen basketball player, Randy Rickards, 18, of Milton, had already turned himself in to Milford police when he learned he was a suspect in the case, police said.

Rickards was charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault, police said. He was presented at the Justice of the Peace Court 2, where unsecured bail was set at $1,000. He is scheduled to appear at the Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date.

Milford police are searching for a third suspect in the fight.

This investigation is ongoing and both participating schools have been assisting, police said.

Officers from the Delaware State Police and Harrington Police Department also responded to the fight and provided assistance to Milford officers assigned to the event and other officers who responded from the Milford department.

The two suspects turned themselves in, while a third suspect is still wanted in the fight that broke out between fans and Cape players at the division title game between Cape and Smyrna at Milford High School.

Staff Report

An 18-year-old Smyrna man has turned himself in to police as one of three suspects in the fight at the boys basketball game between Smyrna and Cape Henlopen Thursday at Milford High School.

During the fourth quarter of the Northern Division title game, a fight broke out behind the Cape Henlopen bench and then spilled onto the court. The game was stopped. Smyrna, leading 61-34, was declared the winner.

On Monday, Tahraan Hughes, 18, of Smyrna, turned himself in to Milford Police Department. He was was charged with disorderly conduct, police said. He was presented at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on $500 unsecured bail while awaiting another court appearance.

As part of his bail conditions, Hughes was prohibited from attending any high school basketball games in Delaware and he is to have no contact with any Milford School District property.

He was ordered to appear in Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date reference to this case.

A Cape Henlopen basketball player, Randy Rickards, 18, of Milton, had already turned himself in to Milford police when he learned he was a suspect in the case, police said.

Rickards was charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault, police said. He was presented at the Justice of the Peace Court 2, where unsecured bail was set at $1,000. He is scheduled to appear at the Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date.

Milford police are searching for a third suspect in the fight.

This investigation is ongoing and both participating schools have been assisting, police said.

Officers from the Delaware State Police and Harrington Police Department also responded to the fight and provided assistance to Milford officers assigned to the event and other officers who responded from the Milford department.

The two suspects turned themselves in, while a third suspect is still wanted in the fight that broke out between fans and Cape players at the division title game between Cape and Smyrna at Milford High School.

Staff Report

An 18-year-old Smyrna man has turned himself in to police as one of three suspects in the fight at the boys basketball game between Smyrna and Cape Henlopen Thursday at Milford High School.

During the fourth quarter of the Northern Division title game, a fight broke out behind the Cape Henlopen bench and then spilled onto the court. The game was stopped. Smyrna, leading 61-34, was declared the winner.

On Monday, Tahraan Hughes, 18, of Smyrna, turned himself in to Milford Police Department. He was was charged with disorderly conduct, police said. He was presented at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on $500 unsecured bail while awaiting another court appearance.

As part of his bail conditions, Hughes was prohibited from attending any high school basketball games in Delaware and he is to have no contact with any Milford School District property.

He was ordered to appear in Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date reference to this case.

A Cape Henlopen basketball player, Randy Rickards, 18, of Milton, had already turned himself in to Milford police when he learned he was a suspect in the case, police said.

Rickards was charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault, police said. He was presented at the Justice of the Peace Court 2, where unsecured bail was set at $1,000. He is scheduled to appear at the Kent County Court of Common Pleas at a later date.

Milford police are searching for a third suspect in the fight.

This investigation is ongoing and both participating schools have been assisting, police said.

Officers from the Delaware State Police and Harrington Police Department also responded to the fight and provided assistance to Milford officers assigned to the event and other officers who responded from the Milford department.

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

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.

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A starter on the Cape Henlopen top-ranked basketball team faces charges following a fight that broke out Feb. 22 during the north Henlopen Conference Championship.

The fight started in the fourth quarter of the game with about four minutes left in play. Officials called the game, which Smyrna won 61-34.

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

Fulton said the district will follow its regular displinary process. He would not speak about specific players. Neither would Cape Henlopen High School Principal Nikki Miller. “I’m not at liberty to talk about the specifics about particular students,” she said.

On Feb. 23, Randy Rickards, 18, turned himself in to Milford police and was charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was released on $1,000 unsecured bond. 

Video of the fight shows a player punching a spectator who returns the blow. Police handcuff the spectator and while he is on the floor, a Cape player kicks him in the face. Cape Henlopen basketball Steven Re was interviewed complaining about hecklers in the stands throughout the whole game. Re also said spectators sat directly behind Cape players and harassed them.

Cape Henlopen school board Vice President Jessica Tyndall said it was a bad situation.

“I am a firm believer that you are responsible for your actions and words; however, everyone has their breaking point. Our basketball team endured a tremendous amount of harassment and I’m disappointed that more action was not taken by officials to remove these tormentors. The scenario that unfolded at the basketball game was unfortunate and I’m heartbroken for the entire team,” she said.

Milford Police Detective Timothy Maloney said there were four uniformed Milford police at the game and one in plain clothes. There was also a plain-clothed Delaware State Police officer in attendance, he said.

After the fight began with about four minutes left in the game, Maloney said four more Milford police responded to the gym.

Cape Henlopen is the number one seed in the upcoming boys state basketball tournament.