Charges laid after fight at hockey tournament for 10-year-olds

As an update on a story we published earlier Monday, Police in Lethbridge, Alberta say charges have now been laid against one person and pending against another after a fight broke out at a three-on-three tournament for 10-year-olds in the city on Sunday. Here is the full statement from police:

Police have charged a 55-year-old male and additional charges are pending against a 36-year-old male after a referee and coach were assaulted Sunday during a youth hockey tournament.

On September 8, 2019 at approximately 2 p.m. police responded to a report of an assault at the Crossings Ice Centre along Mauretania Road. Investigation determined at the conclusion of the game, a 10-year-old male player was involved in a verbal altercation with a ref which escalated to the youth striking the ref twice with his stick and the ref pushing him to the ice. At that point a group of adults, including coaches and a relative of the 10-year-old player, came onto the ice. A coach from the opposing team was shoved to the ground and the ref was punched multiple times by the player's relative and a second man before the altercation was broken up.

The relative was subsequently arrested without incident but the second male left the arena and police are attempting to locate him. Assault charges are pending against him.

The 10-year-old boy was examined by EMS and was not injured. The ref and coach both sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The tournament organizer has been fully cooperative with the investigation.

Robert Farrell Creighton, 55, of Standoff, is charged with one count of assault. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 9.

Assault charges are pending against a 36-year-old male.

An update will be issued once the second male has been located and the charges sworn.

You can view video of the altercation below,

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The organization that planned the tournament says it will be cooperating fully with police and this type of behaviour is unacceptable.