Girls Basketball Coach Accused Of Punching Player

The Associated Press

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wis-girls-basketball-coach-faces-battery-charge-after-punching-player-17-after-loss-in-ind/2012/07/10/gJQAnKAObW_story.html

A Wisconsin girls basketball coach has been charged with battery after witnesses said he punched one of his teenage players in the face and threw her to the ground after a loss, police said Tuesday.

Fred Freeman, 47, of Hartford, Wis., faces the misdemeanor charge after the Monday incident, which involved a 17-year-old player from his traveling youth basketball team, at the Indiana Fieldhouse Sports Complex near Indianapolis.

“The victim told officers her basketball coach was verbally abusing her after the team lost their game, Fishers police spokesman Officer Tom Weger said. She reported that during a verbal altercation he punched her in the face, threw her to the ground and got on top of her with his hands around her throat.”

The girl, a Milwaukee resident, suffered scrapes and scratches to her arms and legs.

When officers arrested Freeman afterward at a restaurant, he admitted to restraining the girl but claimed to have been the victim, Weger said. However, the parent of another player told officers she saw Freeman striking the victim.

A police report says Freeman’s daughter also was present and pleaded with him to stop the attack, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Girls Basketball Coach Accused Of Punching Player

The Associated Press

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wis-girls-basketball-coach-faces-battery-charge-after-punching-player-17-after-loss-in-ind/2012/07/10/gJQAnKAObW_story.html

A Wisconsin girls basketball coach has been charged with battery after witnesses said he punched one of his teenage players in the face and threw her to the ground after a loss, police said Tuesday.

Fred Freeman, 47, of Hartford, Wis., faces the misdemeanor charge after the Monday incident, which involved a 17-year-old player from his traveling youth basketball team, at the Indiana Fieldhouse Sports Complex near Indianapolis.

“The victim told officers her basketball coach was verbally abusing her after the team lost their game, Fishers police spokesman Officer Tom Weger said. She reported that during a verbal altercation he punched her in the face, threw her to the ground and got on top of her with his hands around her throat.”

The girl, a Milwaukee resident, suffered scrapes and scratches to her arms and legs.

When officers arrested Freeman afterward at a restaurant, he admitted to restraining the girl but claimed to have been the victim, Weger said. However, the parent of another player told officers she saw Freeman striking the victim.

A police report says Freeman’s daughter also was present and pleaded with him to stop the attack, The Indianapolis Star reported.