A Delran High School football coach was assaulted during a game in Florence last weekend.
By: Scott Morgan
FLORENCE An assault on a Delran High School football coach during a game in Florence last weekend led to the arrest of three members of a Delran family, police announced.
According to police, around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, William Waldman, 40, the father of a Delran wide receiver, attacked coach Pete Miles, 49, as his son, 18-year-old Dan Waldman, came to the sidelines during the Delran/Florence football game. Police said Mr. Waldman attacked Mr. Miles because he took umbrage with how Mr. Miles had spoken to his 18-year-old son, Dan.
Police did not know exactly what was said to spark the fight, but said that the incident lasted less than one minute.
After jumping the fence and running onto the field, police said, Mr. Waldman threw Mr. Miles to the ground then jumped on top of him. Before officers were able to fully stop the assault, Dan’s mother, Annette Waldman, 35, ran onto the field to "defend her husband," police said.
Officers patrolling the game stopped the situation before it got too far out of hand, police said, adding that Mr. Miles was not seriously hurt and finished coaching the game.
After the fight, police said, officers searched Mr. Waldman and found a bag of suspected marijuana in his pocket. As officers were placing Mr. Waldman under arrest, police said, Dan stepped in to try and keep his father from being taken away.
Police charged Mr. Waldman with aggravated assault on a school board employee, aggravated assault at a sporting event in the presence of children under 16, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana on school grounds and disorderly conduct. He posted $2,500 bail and was released, pending a court date.
On Tuesday, police filed additional charges against Annette and Dan Waldman. Police said Mrs. Waldman was charged with obstructing the administration of law, disorderly conduct and defiant trespass while Dan was charged with obstructing the administration of law and aggravated assault on a police officer. Both were released on their own recognizance, pending a court date.