Man attacks referee...who happens to be a state trooper

**jmur5074** · 02-04-09, 06:11 AM

Authorities say a 64-year-old Indiana man upset over the outcome of a high school basketball game attacked a referee - who happened to be a state trooper. Patrick Rempala, of Michigan City, is charged with battery and resisting arrest.

Police say Rempala rushed from the stands Friday after Michigan City Marquette's 33-32 loss to Washington Township High School and yelled at the referees before pointing at Trooper Glen Fifield and bumping him.
Fifield says he walked away but Rempala pushed him again. The trooper then identified himself and told Rempala he was under arrest. Rempala allegedly tried to choke the officer with the neckstrap of his whistle before he was taken in.

A telephone message seeking comment was left for Rempala.

AP : Winona Daily News

**Cidp24** · 02-04-09, 06:14 AM

Next thing you know Rempala will be whining that he did not know the ref was a state trooper, missing the point entirely.

**Captain America** · 02-04-09, 09:06 AM

Dummy.

**Second Chance** · 02-04-09, 09:18 AM

Moron

**lewisipso** · 02-04-09, 10:45 AM

Idiot.

**Xiphos** · 02-04-09, 10:49 AM

Dipshit.

**IndianaFuzz** · 02-04-09, 11:03 AM

If it wasn't a different name, I'd think it might be the same guy that battered my partner. hehehe Hoosiers aren't making too good of a name for ourselves in the news lately.

**Buttercup** · 02-04-09, 04:40 PM

What a maroon.

**CTR man** · 02-05-09, 01:37 AM

Dumbass

**Bob Loblaw** · 02-05-09, 02:30 AM

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fan attacks ref who also is a state trooper / nwi.com
BY KEN KOSKY
kkosky@nwitimes.com
219.548.4354 | Tuesday, February 03, 2009 | 34 comment(s)

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | An angry fan who attacked a referee following a basketball game Friday night didn't realize until too late that the referee he was attacking also is an Indiana State Police trooper.

The trooper ended up having the fan -- Patrick Rempala, 64, of Michigan City -- taken to Porter County Jail on charges of battery and resisting.

The arrest occurred following Friday night's boys basketball game at Washington Township High School, which was hosting Michigan City Marquette.

The referee who was attacked -- Indiana State Police Trooper Glen Fifield -- said Rempala rushed out of the stands after the game and confronted the referees, screaming "you suck."

Fifield said Rempala pointed at his chest and bumped him, but Fifield tried to walk away. A school official stepped in between the two, but he said Rempala went around the official and came after him again. Fifield said Rempala pushed him, at which time he identified himself as a police officer and told him he was under arrest.

Rempala said, "You can't arrest me, you're a referee," and he pushed the trooper again, Fifield said. After a struggle and with assistance from spectators, Fifield gained control of Rempala and arrested him. Fifield said during the struggle, Rempala tried to choke him with his referee's whistle lanyard. Fifield said he suffered knee and shoulder pain after the struggle.

Rempala, once he realized the referee he attacked really was a trooper, reportedly said, "That's not fair."

Fifield said he never found out why the fan was angry, but he talked to his friend, Marquette coach Jason Hawkins, and wasn't told of any controversial calls. Washington Township won the game 32-31.

Fifield said he has been confronted by fans before, but this is the first time he has been attacked in his six years as a referee. He knows of another referee who was knocked out a few years ago. He has contacted a legislator to talk about legislation that would make attacking a referee a specific offense. Fifield would like to see it be a Class D felony to attack, or a Class C felony if the referee is injured.

"It's just a shame it had to happen where kids could see," Fifield said.