KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A 54-year-old man from Oliver Springs has been charged with assault after allegedly putting a referee in a headlock during a basketball game at Grace Christian Academy on Saturday afternoon.
According to court documents, officers responded to a report of an assault at the academy just after 1 p.m. on Saturday. Upon arriving at the scene, they interviewed the referee, who claimed that Jerry Crass, a parent attending the game, became upset with a call made during the contest. After being ejected from the game, Crass allegedly approached the referee, placed him in a headlock, and took him to the ground.
Investigators later reviewed video footage taken by witnesses at the scene, which helped identify Crass as the individual responsible for the assault. In addition to the physical altercation with the referee, Crass is accused of pushing a woman, believed to be his wife, when she attempted to intervene.
Crass has been charged with assault with the threat of bodily injury. He is scheduled for arraignment on April 8.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and respect in athletic events, as well as the serious consequences that can arise when those standards are violated.
