KOKOMO, Ind. — An Indianapolis man was arrested and officially charged after his removal from a Kokomo High School basketball game earlier this month caused a game stoppage.
According to court documents filed in Howard County earlier this month, Keaton Aldridge was officially charged with the following counts in relation to a Feb. 1 incident:
- One count of battery against a public safety official, a Level 6 felony
- One count of resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony
- One count of criminal trespass, a Level 6 felony
- One misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct
Officials said on Feb. 1, officers from the Kokomo Police Department were providing security for Kokomo schools for the Kokomo vs. Cathedral High basketball game. Officials said that more than 3,000 people were reportedly in attendance for the game.
An officer reportedly witnessed a “heated verbal exchange” between two men during the game. The documents read that the argument was not initially alarming to the officer because “it is common at basketball games for fans in the stands to exchange words with each other.”
The officer said that changed when the male, later identified as Aldridge, reportedly turned his body toward the man and directed the comment “get yo a– beat for saying that” toward him. The officer stressed this behavior was not acceptable in the gym.
“It was apparent that this verbal argument had risen to the point that the man standing was now being intimidating by using words and phrases that would be intimidating,” the documents read. “Due to these ‘fighting words’ and their utterance caused (the officer) to believe the man standing up was verbally announcing his intention to inflict injury and/or breach the peace.”
The officer reportedly made his way toward Aldridge, stating that he needed to come with him. The documents said that Aldridge reportedly refused, telling the officer he was “watching the game.” The officer continued to tell Aldridge that he was being ejected after he threatened the man and Aldridge reportedly refused to leave.
Aldridge started walking with the officer toward the exit after the officer threatened to arrest him. The documents said that as they approached the exit, Aldridge turned toward the officer and refused to leave.
The documents stated that Aldridge reportedly pushed past the officer and was “being physically aggressive” toward the officer. The officer then told Aldridge that he was under arrest and to put his hands behind his back. Aldridge reportedly refused and was pushing against the officer.
“Several officers… had a difficult time having to physically push and remove (Aldridge) from the gymnasium,” the documents read. “Once outside on the sidewalk, (Aldridge) was told to place his hands behind his back and he refused several verbal orders by several police officers wearing full Kokomo Police Department uniforms.”
Once he was in handcuffs, Aldridge reportedly pleaded with the officer not to take him to jail and let him go, which the officer responded he could not do.
Officials said the incident caused a 10-minute stoppage in the game. The documents said the teams went into their locker rooms for safety and “several people left the gym out of fear of what had just occurred.”
“The crowd… (was) shocked, anxious and fearful of the event that had just occurred,” the documents read.
According to court documents, Aldridge’s pretrial conference is scheduled for May 1 and his jury trial is scheduled for May 21.
