‘Terrible negative message’: Woman accused of assaulting 2 referees at Foxboro hockey rink

FOXBORO, Mass. — A Taunton woman is facing criminal charges after police say they assaulted two referees at a hockey rink in Foxboro earlier this month.

The parent, whose name wasn’t made public, will be called to court to face “several criminal charges,” the Foxboro Police Department announced Thursday.

“The name of the summoned party will not be released until probable cause for the criminal charges is determined by a clerk magistrate, per Massachusetts public records laws,” the department said in a statement.

Officers responding to a report of a disturbance at the Foxboro Sports Center at 10 East Belcher Road just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, learned two hockey officials had been assaulted, police said.

Parents and guardians outside of the Foxboro rink had already heard of the alleged incident.

Authorities identified the suspect as a parent of one of the players after speaking with witnesses, the two involved referees, and reviewing the game and cellphone video, according to police.

“It’s such a terrible negative message,” said Lynn Wrzosek, a grandmother of three who play hockey at the same rink. “It’s learned behavior. If they see it, they’ll probably repeat it.”

She added, “I even saw a grandmother last night who was getting out of control. I thought she was perhaps going to be thrown out!”

Mike Ober, spokesman for the Massachusetts chapter of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association, told Boston 25 Thursday that violence in hockey and all sports are rising statewide.

“Behaviors emulated in the stands are then emulated by the students,” said Ober. “If you’re a parent of a child that says, ‘Hey mom, dad, I want to referee,’ and you hear about these experiences, you’re not going to let them go out there.”

Ober also cited a shortage of referees as a result of the rising violence.

The Foxboro Sports Center declined the comment on the alleged assaults.

Additional information wasn’t immediately available.

An investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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