An attempt to eject an unruly teenager from a high school hockey game erupted into a fight between about a dozen fans and 15 law officers.
A Bountiful police officer suffered a minor injury during the altercation at the Bountiful Recreation Center on Wednesday night, police said.Police arrested four 17-year-old boys allegedly involved in the 10-minute melee that broke out during a game between the Bonneville High School Lakers and the Olympus High School Titans.
The cases, including suspicion of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault upon a police officer, were referred to juvenile court, said Bountiful police Lt. Bill Collard.
Bountiful officer Jeff Corbin sustained minor rib injuries, police said. He was treated at Lakeview Hospital and released. There were no other reported injuries.
Bonneville Principal Richard Rhees said Friday he was not aware of the fight. He said hockey is not sanctioned by the school or the Utah High School Athletic Association.
Although students can letter in hockey at Bonneville High, the team is not supported financially by the school nor does it supervise the matches.
High school hockey along the Wasatch Front is coordinated by the Salt Lake Amateur High School Hockey Association. Officials with the association could not be reached for comment Friday.
Collard said that about 8:40 p.m., Sgt. Roger Green, who was assigned to provide security for the hockey game, received a complaint from a female employee of the recreation center that a Bonneville High fan had made "abusive and degrading comments" to her.
Collard said the sergeant escorted the teenage boy identified by the woman outside and asked him to leave. Green reported that the youth refused, and, along with some friends who had followed, became belligerent and made offensive comments to the sergeant.
"He backed off and called for assistance," Collard said.
Two Bountiful officers arrived and confronted the teen. Police said the boy still refused to leave and when Green took him by the arm, a struggle ensued in which about a dozen people joined in.
The officers called for backup, bringing about a dozen officers from Bountiful and some surrounding cities, as well as Utah Highway Patrol troopers.