Fan accused of striking ref at Junior Jazz game

Police in Tooele have cited a Stansbury Park man accused of attacking a referee during a Junior Jazz game.

Police said the fan was unhappy with the ref's calls and tried to take a punch at him during Saturday's game of fifth-grade boys.

"The referee made a call and some of the fans were unhappy with the call," Tooele Police Capt. Steve Newkirk said Wednesday.

Police said a man sitting on the front row voiced his opinion to the referee, who called a technical foul on the fan.

"He began yelling that (the referee) couldn't give him a technical. He rushed onto the floor, going after the ref, and took a swing," Newkirk said.

The referee was knocked to the floor. Paramedics took him to Mountain West Medical Center in Tooele to be examined, police said. The referee was later released.

Police said they cited a 31-year-old man with simple assault, a class B misdemeanor and disorderly conduct, a class C misdemeanor.

Recently, a Pioche, Nev., woman pleaded guilty in Cedar City's 5th District Court to assault for attacking a referee during a kids' basketball game in March. Melissa Cheeney, 33, was sentenced to 10 days in jail last month. Police said she attacked the pregnant woman who was officiating at a youth basketball game over calls the referee was making.

Tooele police said this is the first incident of Junior Jazz violence they have seen.

"We've had irate fans before, but none where a fan has assaulted a referee," Newkirk said.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com