Parent Charged For Punching Referee At Hoboken Basketball Game, Police Say

HOBOKEN, NJ — A man was charged with simple assault last Monday for punching a referee at a basketball game, Hoboken police said.

Police said that on Monday, March 4, at approximately 9:15 a.m., Police Officers Joshua Campoverde and Jessica Pizanie responded to Hoboken Police Headquarters to process the arrest of George Cook, 50, of Bayonne.

Cook had turned himself in on simple assault charges, police say.

Police said, "The charges stem from an incident at the Hoboken Multi-Service Center, 124 Grand St., on February 29, 2024, at approximately 5:15 p.m., in which a parent punched a referee during a school basketball game." An investigation by officers Campoverde and Harry Montalvo determined that Cook was the perpetrator, police said.

The Hoboken Recreation calendar shows that several recreation games involving schools were played that evening.

The Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps. treated the victim on the scene, police said.

After his arrest, Cook was processed and released on a summons, police said.

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