A Rhode Island man is accused of assault after police say he punched the organizer of a youth basketball game in the face and pulled a knife on a referee last weekend.
According to WJAR, 37-year-old Christopher Cherry turned himself in on Wednesday. Police said Cherry punched Isaiah Fuller, the organizer of a basketball game in Providence last Saturday, in the face.
Fuller told the television station he and his team left the gym before Cherry apparently pulled out a knife and swung it a referee.
“From the moment we sensed the environment becoming unsafe, I made the decision to remove our players immediately, as their safety and well-being remain my top priority whenever we travel from city to city,” Fuller said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that a day filled with talent, resilience, and positivity was hindered by an ill-advised incident. What matters most is that everyone left the facility safely.”
No one was injured, but video of the incident has been making the rounds on social media.
You can watch the video here.
“It was a really disturbing video, and obviously an unacceptable act of violence… It’s behavior that should not be acceptable and will not be tolerated,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said.
Saturday’s basketball game, held at the John Hope Settlement House, was part of Fuller’s TAFT for The People Tour, which also held an event last weekend in Connecticut and has upcoming stops in New Hampshire and Maine and Massachusetts. He said the tour aims to connect with young people in various cities, spreading a message of joy and positivity along the way.
Cherry was arraigned Wednesday on one count of felony assault, one count of disorderly conduct and two counts of simple assault. A judge set his bond at $2,500 and he was ordered not to have contact with his victims.
He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 17.