Coach charged with assaulting 72-year-old umpire during youth baseball game in Somerset County
BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – An arrest has been made in an attack on an umpire during a youth baseball game in Branchburg Township, according to Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart.
On June 4, at around 8:08 p.m. police responded to White Oak Park for a report of an assault upon an umpire. Upon their arrival, officers were told by bystanders that the suspect had left the park prior to their arrival, Taggart said.
Officers spoke with the 72-year-old male umpire who was bleeding from the mouth and he told officers that while umpiring a 13U youth baseball game he ejected one of the coaches for using foul language. The victim told the officers that the coach, who was later identified as Jerry Otero, 40, of Staten Island, NY, punched him on the left side of his face, Taggart said.
As a result of the follow-up investigation conducted by Branchburg Township detectives it was later determined that after receiving medical treatment the victim had sustained a fractured jaw and concussion from being struck, Taggart said.
On June 21, at around 8:30 a.m., Otero turned himself into the Branchburg Township Police Department, Taggart said.
Otero was charged with third-degree aggravated assault, and fourth-degree assault at a youth sports event. He was then lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, Taggart said.
Anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Branchburg Township Police Department at 908-526-3830 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
