Gloucester coach summonsed for Revere vandalism

REVERE - A 22-year-old Gloucester High School assistant football coach and two 18-year-old Gloucester football players were issued court summonses Wednesday for allegedly vandalizing the Cronin Ice Skating Rink and threatening Revere High School's athletic director during a hockey game in December, police said.

Revere Police Captain Michael Murphy confirmed the three men were issued court summonses for an incident that allegedly occurred Dec. 13 at the Revere Beach Parkway rink. The charges include malicious destruction of property over $250, disorderly conduct and threatening to commit a crime.

Murphy would not specifically name the individuals because he says they haven't been charged with breaking any laws. However, they are now scheduled to appear before a Chelsea District Court Clerk Magistrate who will decide if charges will be filed against them.

The allegations stem from a hockey game between Revere and Gloucester high schools.

According to a censored police report, police responded to the skating rink about 6:30 p.m. on a report of a disturbance. The officers were met by the Revere athletic director, whose name was not provided in the report, saying the two 18-year-olds from Gloucester had "trashed" the men's bathroom after verbally taunting Revere players and fans.

Police say a paper towel dispenser and a soap dispenser were ripped apart and food was smeared all over the walls and ceiling.

One of the 18-year-olds spent several hours in jail because he was so intoxicated police placed him into protective custody, according to the report, which also says the 22-year-old assistant Gloucester football coach told an officer he drove the two teenagers to the hockey game but "did not know they had been drinking." He later told police he never drove them to the game.

During a follow-up investigation two days later, the Revere athletic director told police the trouble all started when Gloucester fans began behaving in a rowdy manner, the police report said. The fans allegedly walked to the Revere side of the bleachers while "behaving in a confrontational manner, yelling and using vulgar language."

A few minutes later, the athletic director observed a few Gloucester fans go into the men's room and followed them inside. There, he allegedly caught the two suspects vandalizing the bathroom.

The Revere athletic director said he tried to speak with the Gloucester football coach about the situation but that the football coach had a "confrontational" demeanor and acted aggressive and that he felt threatened.

After speaking with the owners of the skating rink, police made several attempts to get the teenagers to pay for the damages but their requests were "completely ignored," the report said.

Phone calls to the principal and assistant principal of Gloucester High School as well as the Revere High School's athletic office were not returned Wednesday afternoon.

Lynn Daily Item