A Florida flag football coach has been arrested on a felony charge after allegedly putting a teenage player in a chokehold during postgame handshakes in Palm Beach County. His 16-year-old daughter was also arrested for allegedly attacking the same player.
The key facts, per the Daily Mail and CBS12.com:
- Brandon Mayer, 37, was coaching at a flag football game on October 20 when the incident allegedly happened.
- Mayer is accused of holding a player in a chokehold for about 15 seconds during the postgame handshake line.
- He is charged with felony battery by strangulation.
- His 16-year-old daughter is charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly attacking the same player. She has not been identified because of her age.
- Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies arrested both on Wednesday.
- According to an arrest report obtained by CBS12.com, Mayer denied to officers that he put anyone in a chokehold. The Daily Mail has requested the report from the department.
What the alleged victim says
The 15-year-old player has identified herself as the alleged victim and spoke to CBS12.com along with her father. She said the coach's daughter began mocking her for losing the game. By her account, the thing that set the other girl off was her reply: "You just fell on your face, and it's a rec game."
Why this one stings
The handshake line is supposed to be the easiest part of youth sports: walk past, mumble "good game," go find the orange slices. The allegations here are serious, and the charges are only allegations at this stage. Nothing in the reporting indicates how the cases will proceed.
It was a rec game, and now there are two arrests.
Source: Daily Mail Online