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Sheriff reviews melee at basketball game
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - December 07, 2011)
Sheriff reviews melee at basketball game
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The Geauga County Sheriff's Department is trying to sort through video tapes after a disturbance erupted at a high school basketball game Dec. 3.
Geauga County Sheriff Daniel McClelland said his department was called to a varsity high school basketball game around 9:28 p.m. at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School after players and fans swarmed the court.
Mr. McClelland said the incident occurred just after a close game in which Lakeside beat Notre Dame Cathedral Latin by a 76-75 count.
He said players were going through a traditional handshake following the game when apparently two players got into a scuffle.
"People from the stands then began swarming the floor," he said.
He said two deputies were working the game and quickly called for help from surrounding departments to gain control of the situation.
"It was an excellent demonstration of when someone calls for help in Geauga County, help comes quickly and in numbers," Mr. McClelland said.
He said that help showed up from Chester, Chardon, Burton, Russell, Middlefield, Hunting Valley and South Russell police departments, the Ohio Highway Patrol as well and security forces from the Holden Arboretum, Punderson State Park and the Geauga Park District.
Mr. McClelland said people were directed to their vehicles to ensure the grounds were cleared. He said all had vacated about 45 minutes after the incident began.
"There was ample law enforcement there to ensure that was done," Mr. McClelland said.
Mr. McClelland, who said he arrived within 6 minutes after the call was placed by deputies, said it was hard to judge how many people may have been involved. He said he arrived to find the crowd still on the court and tensions running high.
He said he has heard that the gym holds about 1,000 people, but maybe only about 100 were involved in the fracas.
He said law enforcement officials were concerned that the melee would spill over into the parking lot or off grounds after the initial incident is under control. "It's over when these people get home," he said.
One person, Penny Lynn Miller, 43, of Ashtabula, was charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, stemming from the incident. He said charges are pending against a 17-year-old.
He said there were no reported injuries in the incident and no damage was sustained to school property.
His office is expected to review video camera images of the incident to determine whether there were any "primary aggressors," meaning those who may have thrown punches, he said.
"Players or fans can get caught up in the emotions of the game," he said. "Fortunately these are rare occurrences.
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