PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — An elementary school basketball coach and her father were arrested after they allegedly attacked an opposing team’s coach and his wife during a game earlier this month.
It happened on Feb. 1 during — and after — a second-grade basketball game held at Holy Child School at Rosemont in Bryn Mawr.
Lower Merion Police Lt. Michael Keenan said it kicked off with shouting and cursing, then turned violent.
Keenan said 38-year-old Brittany Ortiz, the assistant coach of one of the teams, grabbed the other coach’s wife by her hair and slammed her to the ground.
Then, according to court documents, Ortiz’s father, William Stanley, hit the coach in the head while the coach was holding his 3-year-old daughter.
“We can’t be getting in physical altercations when a child is between any adults,” Keenan said.
Ortiz was arrested and charged with assault. Stanley surrendered to police. His lawyer said Stanley suffered broken bones and a head injury, and he maintains he is innocent.
An attorney for Ortiz said he is looking forward to reviewing the evidence and will “vigorously defend” his client.
Holy Child School said the gym was rented by the Malvern Basketball League, and the school has no affiliation with the teams.