Fight at Burnsville Basketball Tournament

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Burnsville police were called to Burnsville High School on Saturday afternoon during a basketball tournament organized by the Burnsville Athletic Club on a report of a fight. Sgt. Jeff Behken said the fight started when Robin Johnson became upset while watching his son play in a 6th grade basketball game.

After the game ended in overtime, Behnken said Johnson and a couple of the people from the stands went onto the court to confront the timekeepers. A commissioner with the athletic club, Jeff Shand, intervened.

Police say Shand’s phone was knocked out of his hand before he could call police; he was punched and knocked out cold. Another parent stepped into help and was also hit, but able to fight back.

“There were a number of other parents who basically pig-piled onto the whole thing and were able to pull the two apart,” Benken said.

Police arrested Johnson for probable cause 5th degree assault and interfering with a 911 call.

The president of the Burnsville Athletic Club said in a statement Johnson and his family are suspended from club activities. Johnson’s son is not allowed to play with his team and the club is considering legal action.

Shand is recovering after being knocked unconscious. He has a dislocated jaw and dental damage. Sgt. Behnken said “a temporary disfigurement could make it a felony level offense.”

Johnson was released on his own recognizance after the incident pending further investigation. Charges will be sought with either the Burnsville City Attorney’s Office or the Dakota County Attorney’s office pending the final investigation.

Anyone at the basketball tournament who has a video of the incident is asked to contact Burnsville police at 952-895-4631, or email Sgt. Jef Behnken at jef.behnken@ci.burnsville.mn.us

Nicole LaVoi teaches sports physiology and sociology at the University of Minnesota. Lavoi says parents often start fights on the sidelines because either their child is not getting enough playing time or they disagree with a refs call during the game. She says fights break out more often when the stakes are high such as travel teams.

“Combined with an event like over time you have a perfect storm that could eventually set sport parents off,”  LaVoi said.

Lavoi teaches a workshop twice a year called MN PLAYS which stands for Parents Learning About Sports.

“I think we have to start early when kids enter sports we start with sport parent education sessions for the sport parents to say here are the ways you can make sport positive for you and your family and your children and here are some things to avoid,” LaVoi said.

Burnsville Police are looking for people who witnesses Saturday’s incident. They want to identify the people who walked onto the court with Mr. Johnson. Investigators are also looking for anyone who video taped the incident.

For More information about MN PLAYS: http://www.cehd.umn.edu/MNYSRC/programs/mnplays.html