CONNECTICUT — A basketball coach faces three criminal charges after allegedly assaulting a referee during a youth game in Shelton on October 24, according to an October 31 report from CT Police Live.
The outlet identified the coach as Thomas Sparks, 37, who was coaching a Connecticut Elite youth team at the Boys and Girls Club in Shelton. It reported that a disagreement over a foul call escalated into Sparks allegedly tripping and pushing the referee down, then putting an arm around his neck before others intervened.
According to CT Police Live's account, which attributes the allegations to police, the referee said he felt he might pass out. The outlet reported that Sparks told investigators he acted because he did not know what the referee might do after their verbal exchange. Eastern CT News has not reviewed the police report or independently confirmed those accounts.
CT Police Live reported that Sparks was arrested October 24 on charges of third-degree assault, second-degree strangulation and risk of injury to a child. It listed a $10,000 bond and a scheduled November 12 court appearance. The charges are allegations, and no conviction or subsequent court outcome has been established in the material reviewed.
The outlet also reported that Sparks resigned October 29 as the Staples High School girls basketball coach in Westport and that Connecticut Elite said he was no longer working with its organization. Those employment developments have not been independently confirmed by Eastern CT News.
This article was prepared with AI from CT Police Live's readable report supplied through the authorized source feed. Eastern CT News did not interview participants or obtain separate police confirmation. The accompanying file photograph shows a Shelton Police Services sign; it does not depict the game, the alleged assault or the accused.