Florida Coach Arrested for Allegedly Choking Teen Player in Flag Football Brawl
An altercation during a postgame handshake escalated, leading to felony battery charges for a coach and a misdemeanor charge for his daughter.
A youth flag football game in Wellington, Florida, ended with the arrest of a coach and his daughter following a postgame brawl. Brandon Mayer, 37, was charged with felony Battery by Strangulation, and his 16-year-old daughter faces a simple battery charge.
The incident occurred on October 20, beginning during the customary postgame handshake. According to court documents, Mayer's daughter allegedly initiated an assault on a 15-year-old player, Sophia Lopez, by pulling her to the ground by her hair. Lopez told CBS12 News that the other player had been mocking her for losing the game.
During the altercation, Brandon Mayer reportedly intervened and placed Lopez in a chokehold for approximately 15 seconds. "It felt everything was so tight," Lopez recounted to CBS12. "It felt like I was just, I was never gonna get out until I just saw black."
Lopez's father, who also coaches her team, stepped in to separate the individuals. He stated that as he tried to get up, the 16-year-old player kicked him in the face with her cleat.
When questioned by police on October 28, both Brandon Mayer and his daughter presented a different account. The 16-year-old claimed Lopez confronted her aggressively, and Mayer stated he attempted to separate them by mirroring their movements. However, officials found sufficient probable cause to proceed with charges.
Mayer was booked on October 28 and released the following day on $75,000 bond.