[ozzy6900]

Copied from the New Haven Register (CT) because I know that the link will dissapear (they have a habit of doing that).



05/18/2005
Father charged in attack on coach
Joe Morelli , New Haven Register Staff

Sacred Heart Academy-Hamden softball coach John Crovo was attacked with a baseball bat Tuesday by a parent apparently upset over the suspension of his daughter for violating a team policy.
Crovo, a 54-year-old Clinton resident, was hit from behind by Mark Picard of North Branford at the Sacred Heart softball field during practice at about 3:45 p.m., police said. Picard, an art teacher at Notre Dame High School of West Haven, was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury.

Crovo, who is also the director of information and technology for the Clinton public schools, was admitted to Yale-New Haven Hospital with head, chest and leg injuries and later released.

"I took a big-time beating," Crovo said. "He was swinging for the fences. This guy was trying to kill me."

Crovo said the first blow was to his head. Picard then hit him several times when he was down in a fetal position, according to Crovo.

According to several sources, Picard was allegedly upset because his daughter, Melanie, was suspended for three games late last week for attending a prom rather than a game against West Haven.

Mark Picard did not return several calls from the Register.

Blair Destito, a junior co-captain and shortstop, witnessed the incident.

"The girl and her father and older sister (Michelle) were at the field when we walked down to go to practice. It was really weird to see her father there ... Our coach started talking to the girl's father, then all of a sudden I hear girls screaming and our JV team was running away from where they were standing. I looked over and our coach is on the ground and the girl's father is beating him with a bat, he was continually hitting him.

"The girl ran over and was screaming at her father to stop, eventually he just stopped.," Destito said.

Said Crovo: "He wanted to know if his kid could play (today) and I said I didn't want her here and I told him to take her home, and I turned around and walked away."

According to Destito, Crovo was walking away and "the father picked up a bat and hit him on the back of his head."

Destito said when Picard started walking away from the incident, an assistant coach called 911 and the police and that Crovo was left lying on the ground.

Team Co-captain Brittany De-Gennaro also witnessed the attack. "Melanie and Michelle were both very involved in getting Mr. Picard to calm down. ... It was over a stupid policy that was supposed to protect the morale of the team."

Picard was released on $25,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court May 31.

Crovo also coached Melanie Picard, and said he has never had a problem with Mark Picard, also noting their relationship was always cordial.

Crovo said he will be out of work for at least the next 10 days and must wear a neck brace during that time span. An orthopedic surgeon will check the condition of his knees after the swelling goes down.

The attack comes less than a week after state House lawmakers passed a bill making it a felony to assault a referee, umpire or other sports officials.

Though the bill does not cover coaches, its co-sponsor suggested Tuesday it might be expanded to protect coaches.

"I would imagine that a prosecutor, once this bill passes, would take a hard line on an assault against a coach as well, although the bill itself doesn't cover that," said state Rep. David Labriola, R-Naugatuck.

"This incident is just further evidence that this is a very real problem regarding tempers flaring at these sporting events," said Labriola, a criminal defense lawyer. "Enough is enough."

If passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, the law would carry a maximum prison term of five years and $5,000 fine.




[Edited by ozzy6900 on May 18th, 2005 at 11:03 AM]