A young Kansas City man now says he is sorry for impulsively punching a high school basketball referee in the head after the ref ruled against his sister during a high school girl’s basketball game.
After the incident, Dwan Lamont Marshall, Jr., 21, was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct, according to the Kansas City Star.
Marshall was reportedly incensed by the calls made by the 33-year old referee, Dallas Bryant, one of which was against the attacker’s sister who was playing for Raytown South High School.
The referee reportedly scolded the girl for rolling the ball to him instead of handing it to him.
The attack was preceded by an argument over his calls as Bryant had apparently had words with some of the parents who were upset over his officiating. The referee then threatened to eject them “to the parking lot” if they continued to confront him. Bryant was near the crowd with his back turned when Marshall, Jr., reportedly walked up behind him and without warning punched him in the head.
A witness told police that the attacker yelled, “You ain’t gonna bring that in the parking lot,” after punching the ref.
An off-duty Raytown Police Department detective who was present at the game filed a report on the matter. The detective said that Marshall, Jr., apologized for the attack. “I regret punching the ref in the face. It was an emotional response. I shouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry,” the officer said the attacker exclaimed.
Th attacker was issued a summons to appear in the Raytown Municipal Court for a date at the end of February.
Due to the attack, the game was brought to a halt and then canceled. It will be rescheduled at a later date.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
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