A New Jersey man has been accused of putting the teenage coach of his son’s flag football team in a chokehold after the son was rotated out of the quarterback position.
Westwood police Det. Warren Morrell says it happened Saturday in front of about 75 people at a game for 6- to 8-year-olds.
League commissioner Fred Kritzker tells NJ.com that Peter Iappelli, of Closter, got upset after his son was removed and he then put the 16-year-old coach, Philip Bicocchi, in a chokehold.
Bicocchi, who is normally an assistant coach for the Pee Wee Jets, assumed head coaching duties on that particular morning because the full-time head coach was observing the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, according to Pascack Valley Daily Voice.
A New Jersey man, Peter Iappelli (left), has been accused of putting the teenage coach of his son’s flag football team, 16-year-old Philip Bicocchi (right), in a chokehold after the son was rotated out of the quarterback position
Iappelli is seen above surrendering to Westwood, New Jersey police as he is escorted by his attorneys on Thursday
Iappelli was given a summons on Wednesday to appear in court later this month. His lawyer is unavailable to comment for him.
Kritzer says Iappelli apologized for his behavior in an email. He says the family, of Closter, has been banned from the league.
Iappelli is a school business administrator who earns an annual salary of $171,136.
He faces a simple assault charge as well as one count of disorderly conduct.
The altercation took place Saturday morning at Westwood Middle School’s Ketler Field in Westwood, New Jersey.
The altercation took place Saturday morning at Westwood Middle School’s Ketler Field in Westwood, New Jersey
‘(Iappelli’s) son was the quarterback but he was rotated out of that position by [Bicocchi],’ said Kritzer, who heads the North Jersey NFL Flag Football league.
‘The coach even informed the parents of the rotation. That’s when the guy got very upset.’
Kritzer said that initially Iappelli approached Bicocchi and extended his hand as if it appeared he wanted a benign handshake.
‘What looked like a handshake turned into a bear hug that turned into a chokehold,’ Kritzer said.
During the alleged assault, Iappelli was heard yelling profanity at Bicocchi.
‘At least one mother asked him what he was doing,’ Kritzer said.
Iappelli then ‘took off’ after other parents began to speak up, he said.
Shortly after the incident, Iappelli sent an apologetic email to Kritzer, Bicocchi, and Bicocchi’s family.
Bicocchi, who is normally an assistant coach for the Pee Wee Jets, assumed head coaching duties on that particular morning because the full-time head coach was observing the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur
Bicocchi’s father is Robert Bicocchi, who is a councilman in the local government in the Borough of Westwood. When asked to comment by local media, Robert Bicocchi declines to say anything other than he had signed a police complaint against Iappelli
‘I’m very sorry for my behavior. I won’t come to anymore practices or games,’ he wrote.
Parents and children who witnessed the event were reportedly shaken, with some notifying the police.
Bicocchi’s father is Robert Bicocchi, who is a councilman in the local government in the Borough of Westwood.
When asked to comment by local media, Robert Bicocchi declines to say anything other than he had signed a police complaint against Iappelli.
He said his son was OK ‘other than the emotional trauma and having to go to the hospital with neck pain.’
Iappelli is due to be arraigned on October 20.
There is no word as to whether he has been disciplined by his employer.