A Connecticut highschool ladies basketball coach was arrested after allegedly tripping and choking a referee throughout a youth league recreation over a foul name final week.
Thomas Sparks, 37, resigned because the Staples Excessive Faculty coach after allegedly calling a referee a “dickhead” and choking him through the Oct. 24 recreation, the CT Submit reported.
Sparks was teaching a group within the Connecticut Elite youth basketball league in Shelton when he reportedly confronted the referee over what he believed was an improper foul name, in accordance with the publication, which cited a police report.
The disagreement started as a heated verbal change earlier than the confrontation turned bodily.
Sparks allegedly tripped the referee and pushed him to the ground.
Because the referee tried to get again up, Sparks allegedly wrapped an arm round his neck.
Spectators shortly intervened, and Sparks was faraway from the constructing.
The referee later went to a police station and filed a report.
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Sparks advised investigators that he grew to become bodily as a result of he was uncertain how the referee would reply after their heated change, the CT Submit reported, citing the police report.
Police stated witnesses on the recreation, together with a number of gamers, supported the referee’s account.
Sparks was arrested that day and charged with assault, strangulation and threat of harm to a baby, in accordance with the native outlet.
A number of days after his arrest, Sparks resigned from his teaching place on the Westport highschool on Thursday.
“Tommy resigned for private and household concerns,” the Staples Excessive Faculty athletic director confirmed to the CT Submit.
Sparks additionally not works for Connecticut Elite, group officers advised the outlet, declining to remark additional.
He was launched on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court docket on Nov. 12.
The Submit contacted the Shelton Police Division, the Staples Excessive Faculty athletics division and Connecticut Elite for remark.
