Police arrested a Philadelphia youth basketball coach accused of punching a referee during a game last month.
Antjuan Hart, 26, was arrested on Sept. 5 and charged with aggravated assault, assault on a sports official, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Hart was a coach for the Warren Tanksley league, which consists of players between the ages of 12 and 14.
Hart’s team was playing in a semifinal playoff game on 48th Street and Woodland Avenue back on Aug. 9. After the referee made a call against his team, Hart became unruly, according to league commissioner Vontez Simpson.
Simpson told NBC10 he called the game in the final minutes due to Hart's behavior. Hart then walked over to the ref and punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious, Simpson said.
“To do that in front of young kids, that sends a bad message," Simpson said.
Police say the referee was unconscious for five to six minutes on the court.
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Surveillance video captured the punch and aftermath. The referee was expected to be honored at the league’s championship game nearly three weeks after the incident but was still recovering from his injury at that time.
“He was suffering from seizures,” Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker said. “Has blood on the brain and a concussion.”
