Man arrested, accused of assaulting referee at Providence event
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A man seen on video attacking a referee after a youth basketball game has been arrested for assault, Providence police said.
Christopher Cherry was arrested Wednesday, police said, after turning himself in.
Police had issued a warrant for Cherry’s arrest following a reported assault at a basketball game on Sept. 13, police said.
Cherry is charged with one count of felony assault, two counts of simple assault, and one count of disorderly conduct.
Providence police provided this booking photo of Christopher Cherry.
Video shared on social media showed a man approaching a referee in a gym and swinging at him, though the context is unclear.
The game was being played at the John Hope Settlement House on Thomas P Whitten Way in Providence.
Numerous social media posts connected the incident to the RI Elite basketball program, but the director of the program told ABC6 News that is false.
RI Elite donated jerseys for the charity event, he said, but it was not an RI Elite team or coach that was involved in this incident.
RI Elite is out of season, and none of its coaches were at the event, director Nick Light said.
The event was part of a touring “TAFT” Basketball event, organized by Isaiah Fuller.
In a statement to ABC6 News, Fuller said his team was not present in the gym at the time, and the incident occurred after the event had concluded.
Fuller’s full statement can be read below:
On behalf of myself and the entire TAFT team, I want to sincerely thank the City of Providence and its community for supporting my TAFT Event. Our mission has always been to bring people together through the game of basketball, and Saturday was no exception. The atmosphere was electric, and our players put on an unforgettable performance—fighting back from a 25-point deficit to secure a hard-earned victory. We are aware of the incident that occurred after the event concluded. Like many others, we saw the video, though our team was not present in the gym at that time. From the moment we sensed the environment becoming unsafe, I made the decision to remove our players immediately, as their safety and well-being remain my top priority whenever we travel from city to city. It is unfortunate that a day filled with talent, resilience, and positivity was hindered by an ill-advised incident. What matters most is that everyone left the facility safely. We remain committed to spreading positivity, and peace—the TAFT way.
Police said Cherry is being held pending a court appearance.
