{
  "id": 17285266,
  "title": "Staples girls basketball coach arrested after police say he choked referee during game over foul call",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/staples-girls-basketball-coach-arrested-after-police-say-he-choked",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T20:40:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/staples-girls-basketball-coach-arrested-204056243.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Staples High School girls basketball coach Thomas Sparks has been arrested after allegedly choking a referee during a youth game. The incident occurred on Oct. 24 at the Boys and Girls Club in Shelton. Sparks, 37, was charged with third-degree assault, second-degree strangulation, and risk of injury to a child following a complaint from the referee. According to police, the altercation began when Sparks confronted the referee over a disputed foul call. The referee then allegedly called Sparks a \"dickhead\" and, seconds later, Sparks allegedly tripped and choked the referee. Witnesses, including players, supported the referee's account. Sparks resigned from his coaching position on the same day as his arrest, citing personal and family considerations. He is due in court on Nov. 12 and was released on a $10,000 bond.",
  "summary": "The coach has resigned after police say he tripped and choked a referee over a foul call during a youth game last week in Shelton.",
  "key_points": [
    "Staples High School girls basketball coach Thomas Sparks arrested",
    "Sparks charged with assault, strangulation, child injury risk",
    "Incident over disputed foul call and alleged verbal abuse"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}