Sep 30, 2007 9:24 am US/Eastern
Youth Football Coach Charged With Assaulting Ref
by Dennis Edwards
ASPEN HILL, Md. (WJZ) ―
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A referee said a coach threatened him with a gun. (File)
CBS
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Aaron McCown, of Baltimore, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and other offenses.
CBS
Police arrest a coach for threatening a referee with a gun.
Dennis Edwards reports a series of controversial calls led to angry reactions during a pee wee football game on an Aspen Hill field between Baltimore's Old Towne Gators and White Oak Warriors. A referee said a coach threatened him with a gun.
"It was a fan that really started all this and we shouldn't be penalized as an organization, but it was a fan, not a coach, that came from here. He never did anything," said Coach David Harris.
But referee Darren Brown ended the game because of what he called violent behavior and abusive language from Gators teammates and personnel. That's when charging documents say Gators coach Aaron McCown, a convicted felon, allegedly approached the referee and said, "I have something for you." McCown went to another man's truck and allegedly grabbed a black bag with a handgun inside. A witness told police McCown said, "We are gonna get that fat [expletive] ref," as he ran toward Brown. Later, police found a .45 caliber handgun in a bag mixed in with football equipment.
"I don't think he really did nothing 'cause I was there at the game, and he didn't. Everybody was upset about the ref's calls and I never seen this coach with a gun," a witness said.
"He's been with our organization four years. The kids love him. He's a great mentor, someone we can always count on, so the action was very surprising," said league program director Lisa Fitts.
McCown is charged with first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
The controversy caused the cancellation of Saturday's Gators game and the rest of the team's season is in trouble.
"I don't agree with it, because I think all coaches should set an example for the kids, but I also don't think that our kids should suffer for this whole incident," said parent Michele Spann.
On Monday, a meeting with league officials is scheduled in Woodlawn to decide whether the rest of the Gators football season will be canceled.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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