Cops: Toms River Dad Slapped With Assault Charge After Tackling Youth Football Coach

Handcuffs (Shorebeat File Photo/ banspy/ Flickr)

A Toms River dad is facing assault charges after police say he tackled his son’s youth football coach after he disciplined team members for poor sportsmanship.

The altercation, which occurred at a Pop Warner football game at 7:29 p.m. Sunday, apparently erupted after the coach told the players to turn in their equipment and that the season would be over due to their reported ongoing bad attitudes, said police spokesman Ralph Stocco.

The coach of the Toms River Indians, a 45-year-old Toms River man told police that he was physically assaulted by Joseph Oleske, 46, of Toms River. The coach told Officer Joshua Pedalino that after the game, Oleske ran across the field toward him and then tackled him without any provocation or warning.

---

Get Brick News Updates Daily Your email address:* Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries

“The two men then fought on the ground until bystanders broke them apart,” said Stocco.

The coach confirmed that he told the players the season was over as a discipline measure for poor sportsmanship and bad attitudes, Stocco said.

Pedalino interviewed several people “and determined that Mr. Oleske was the sole aggressor,” police said.

Pedalino placed Oleske under arrest and charged him with simple assault.  Oleske was released on his own recognizance pending a later court date.