BEECH GROVE, Ind. -- A youth football coach is facing battery charges after allegedly beating up a referee during a game over the weekend.
The fight broke out near Beech Grove Middle School. According to police records, the youth coach admitted to them that he punched the ref in the face after being ejected from the game.
Those records also say that the coach, James Gann, 37, told police that the ref, James Kleinhenz, was nit-picking every call of the game.
The reports state that on one play Gann's son was injured and the referee was checking on him. That's when Gann stepped in to check as well, bumping the referee.
After a warning and some words exchanged, the ejection flag came out and Gann told police he responded by punching Kleinhenz several times in the face.
Kleinhenz told police that Gann stood over him, taunting him.
The referee, Kleinhenz, refused medical treatment.
Gann was arrested and charged with battery. RTV6 has learned that Gann is not employed by the school, but is a coach through a local booster group.
