The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 03:55 PM

Referee In Youth Football Game Charged With Aggravated Assault

 A referee in a youth football game was charged with aggravated assault after witnesses said he pulled out a pocket knife during an argument with a coach.

Police said Arnold Jay Davis was arrested after working a Saturday afternoon game at Central High School in Knoxville. The team was playing against another team from Fulton.

According to a police report, Davis had declared the game a forfeit and ejected Antonio Hamilton for "causing a disturbance." A school resource officer reported that Hamilton argued with Davis as the teams left the field.

Davis told police that Hamilton said he was going to "kill him," but according to a police report, nobody else who was there at the time could corroborate that. Witnesses told police Davis pulled a large pocket knife out of his pocket and held it by his side.

A school resource officer said Davis' knife was unopened. Other witnesses told police the knife was open.

A Knoxville City Parks and Recreation spokesperson told Local 8 News that he believed nine-year-olds were playing on both teams at the time.