Sylmar Player Faces Charges in Assault on Basketball Referee

A Sylmar High basketball player was arrested on suspicion of assault Thursday after he allegedly hit a referee Wednesday after his team lost to Birmingham High.

The player--who is not being identified because he is a minor--was released into his father’s custody.

Donald Caldwell, one of the officials for the game Wednesday, filed a complaint Thursday with the Foothill Division of the Los Angeles Police Department, according to Detective James Soles.

According to Angelo Porco, a Sylmar assistant principal who witnessed the incident, Caldwell was struck on the right side of the face in the parking lot after Sylmar’s 57-52 loss in the East Valley League game at Sylmar High. “It’s unfortunate,” Porco said. “He’s a very gifted athlete, but he just completely lost his cool.”

Porco said that he will file a report on the incident today with the City Section office.

Porco, who is also Sylmar’s administrator in charge of athletics, said that the player has been suspended from school and faces expulsion.

“We will follow board policy and recommend that he be expelled,” Porco said.