Man Arrested for Assault on Referee : Preps: Father of La Canada volleyball player is expected to be arraigned Nov. 14.

The father of a La Canada High volleyball player has been arrested and is expected to be charged with felony battery for allegedly attacking an official after a tournament match last month.

Peter Claridge of La Canada was released on his own recognizance after turning himself in to Ventura police Monday afternoon.

Police said Claridge, whose daughter, Kate, is a middle blocker for La Canada, attacked Jerry Burns, a veteran volleyball official, shortly after La Canada had lost a semifinal match against Lakewood at Ventura High on Sept. 9.

Felony battery against a sports official carries a maximum $2,000 fine and one-year jail term. Claridge is scheduled for arraignment Nov. 14 in Ventura Superior Court.

Burns said he was approached immediately after the match by Claridge and La Canada’s coach, Tami Aldrich, who were angry with several of his calls.

“[Aldrich] came up to me and said I was crappy when she played in high school and I still was crappy,” Burns said. “Then [Claridge] mimicked her. I was waiting for another official so we could leave and then he head-butted me.

“All I wanted to do was get away from him.”

Witnesses said Claridge tried to follow Burns but was restrained. Burns, who is in his 18th season as a high school official, suffered a facial gash and a nose injury, police said.

Bill Grant, another tournament official, said that Kate Claridge screamed at her father, “Dad, you hit the referee! What are you doing?”

Claridge did not return phone messages left at his home. Aldrich, who played for Canyon Country Canyon High from 1983 to ‘85, declined comment.

Anita Diaz, supervisor of high school volleyball officials in Ventura County, said she has notified San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel high school officiating units of Claridge’s alleged actions.

Cal Houston, a Ventura County officials’ representative, asked the Southern Section to take disciplinary action against Claridge and Aldrich.

The Southern Section investigated but took no action, and Karen Hellyer, Southern Section assistant commissioner, said there was none to take against Claridge.

“We don’t have any authority over the parents,” Hellyer said.

La Canada’s principal, James Stratton, expressed regret over the incident but said, “Nothing indicates inappropriate action by the coach,” adding the school won’t take action against Claridge, either.