A local high school referee must wrestle with the law after he was arrested for his alleged role in thefts that happened during a wrestling tournament.
Items were taken during an early February fundraising wrestling match at North Penn High School in Lansdale, Pa.
Registered PIAA wrestling referee 37-year-old Marcus Smith was one of the refs assigned to North Penn for the tournament. The Horsham resident brought his cousin to the matches.
As 250 or so wrestlers took to the mat, 26-year-old Jonathan Smith, Marcus Smith's cousin, allegedly took some items, according to police. Some of the items were taken from a hospitality area that was set up at the match, said Towamencin Police Chief Paul T. Dickinson.
Among the items taken were an iPhone, cell phone, car keys and other items, said police.
Jonathan Smith appears to have been the one doing the stealing but his older cousin was linked to the crimes after school security cameras caught Jonathan loading the stolen items into Marcus' car, according to police.
Both men were arrested on February 7.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Marcus Smith is charged with conspiracy. His cousin faces theft and drug charges because he had cocaine on him when police arrested the 26-year-old, according to police.
Marcus told NBC 10 News that he is completely innocent and will be vindicated. He was on the mat at the time of the incidents -- the thefts were entirely the action of his cousin, said Marcus.
He was suspended by the PIAA and was removed from their list of potential refs after the arrests, according to a PIAA official.
Attempts to contact Jonathan Smith were unsuccessful.
"We are very interested if anyone attended a wrestling match at the school and was a victim of theft, said Chief Dickinson.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Towamencin Police.
Both men are currently out on bail.
