JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he battered a referee following a basketball tournament in San Marco earlier this summer.
Dana Johnson, 30, was arrested Sunday after Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers conducted a traffic stop and discovered an active arrest warrant connected to the June incident. Johnson was booked into the Pretrial Detention Facility at 11:01 p.m.
Incident at Aspire Church San Marco
The alleged battery occurred June 20,at approximately 1:55 p.m. at 1435 Atlantic Blvd., the location of Aspire Church San Marco, where a basketball tournament was being held.
According to the redacted arrest report, Jose Rodriguez Rivera, the game’s referee, told officers that a player became upset with one of his calls. Rivera said the player walked toward him, arguing and then hitting him after the tournament ended.
A witness supported the referee’s account, telling officers he saw the player get into an argument with the referee before the altercation took place.
The report said that the tournament coordinator also witnessed the incident and told officers that Johnson had registered for the tournament under the name “Dane Johnson,” going by the nickname “Deejay Johnson.” Orta provided officers with contact information used during registration, as well as a photo of the suspect.
Identification, arrest
Officers were unable to contact Johnson for an interview at the time of the initial investigation. Due to multiple independent witness accounts, investigators determined probable cause existed for a charge of battery on a sports official before or after an athletic contest.
He is charged with battery on a sports official before or after an athletic contest, a third-degree felony. His bond was set at $15,003.
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