Youth football referee arrested after postgame dispute

By AP
Published

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A referee in a youth football game has been charged with aggravated assault after witnesses say he pulled out a pocket knife during an argument with a coach.

Police say Arnold Jay Davis was arrested after working a Saturday afternoon game in Knoxville, Tennessee.

According to a court affidavit, Davis had declared the game a forfeit and ejected Antonio Hamilton for ''causing a disturbance.'' Hamilton argued with Davis as the teams left the field.

Davis told police that Hamilton said he was going to ''kill him,'' but nobody else present could corroborate that. Witnesses told police Davis pulled a large pocket knife out of his pocket and held it by his side.

A school resource officer said Davis' knife was unopened. Other witnesses told police the knife was open.