Burnsville police were asking for the public's help today in locating any video that was shot by people attending a youth basketball game where a commissioner was seriously injured -- allegedly by the upset father of one of the players and possibly other fans as well.
After the game ended in overtime, Sgt. Jef Behnken said, the father, who is a 48-year-old Minneapolis man, and a couple of other fans stepped onto the court to confront the timekeepers. A commissioner with the athletic club, Jeff Shand, intervened before the people could get to those timekeepers.
Police say Shand's phone was knocked out of his hand before he could call police. He took a punch and got knocked out. Another parent stepped in to help and was also hit, but fought back, including with a kick to the father's groin.
Shand has said the father threw a basketball at him and that a younger man "sucker-punched" him from behind. Police were still sorting out details today.
Behnken said police have interviewed witnesses and taken statements but would like to see any video that people may have shot during the game at Burnsville High School on Saturday.
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"We're kind of hoping this one's on video so we can capture what took place," Behnken said today. "We believe what everyone's telling us but we'd like to see some footage, too."
He asked that anyone with video or photos of the assault call him at 952-895-4631.
Behnken said police hope to speak today with Shand about his injuries. Officials of the Burnsville Athletic Club said they include a dislocated jaw, dental injuries and a concussion. Once police confirm that Shand does indeed have a dislocated jaw and his other serious injuries, as have been reported, then the case could likely be referred to the Dakota County Attorney's Office for possible felony charges, rather than to the city attorney for misdemeanor charges, Behnken said.
The Star Tribune generally does not name suspects before they are charged.
Court records show the man arrested and released in the assault Saturday has at least two prior convictions in the metro area since 1998 for minor assaults, as well as other convictions in the last few years for violating a domestic-violence protection order and for lying to police.
Police say more arrests still are possible.
TO CONTACT POLICE: Burnsville Police Sgt. Jef Behnken is at 952-895-4631.
-- Copyright (c) 2010, Minneapolis Star Tribune/Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
