Audio

Hartford, Wis. coach accused of assaulting player at Indiana tournament

CREATED Jul. 10, 2012 - UPDATED: Jul. 10, 2012

  • (2) | COMMENTS
  • Print
  • Photo: Fred E. Freeman

Click here to listen to Wisconsin's Afternoon News with John Mercure's interview with Fishers, Indiana officer Tom Weger

FISHERS, Ind. - A basketball coach from Hartford, Wis. has been arrested and charged with battery for allegedly assaulting one of his female basketball players Monday afternoon.

Newsradio 620 WTMJ confirms the story, first reported by the Indianapolis Star.

According to a police report, Fred E. Freeman verbally abused a 17-year-old girl after the team lost a game.  Then Freeman punched her, sent her to the ground, then placed a choke-like hold around her throat.

The girl apparently sustained scratches and abrasions on her arms and legs.

A parent of another player on the team told police she witnessed Freeman strike the girl.

Police found Freeman, the coach of what the Star says is the Wisconsin Stealers.

Freeman, 47, reportedly admitted to restraining the player, but he said the teen attacked him.

Police arrested him and brought him to a local jail.  A judge released him.

Freeman is from Hartford, while the player comes from Milwaukee.

Police told Newsradio 620 WTMJ that Freeman was the only adult supervising the team.  Each parent reportedly had to come to Indiana to come and get their child.