One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Police In Riot Gear Break Up Adult Brawl At Kids' Football Game
'Tis the season for brawling, apparently, whether it's at a Victoria's Secret or at a Pop Warner football game.
A massive fight broke out between hundreds of parents at a Pop Warner playoff game at Ayala Park before 3 pm yesterday. There aren't many details about what happened before police were called to the scene in Chino, but the San Bernardino Sun reports officers showed up to the scene wearing riot helmets.
Police Sgt. Frank Mena told the Sun, "We only had our helmets on for our protection because when you get a call of a fight between two and three hundred people, you want to be protected."
Mena said most of the parents ran off as officers made their way into the park. One of the teams was from Alhambra, but the name of the other team hasn't been released. No one was seriously injured or even arrested in the end.
Until recently, we had no idea Pop Warner games could be so cut-throat—sometimes literally. This October a man was murdered at a post-game party at Shakey's in Monterey Park. A 13-year-old boy was paralyzed while playing last November. There are even Pop Warner coaches accused of paying players to knock out rivals.