Aggressive Behavior at Game Leads to Arrest of Basketball Coach

Clackamas County deputies arrest 6th grade girls basketball coach over disturbance at Saturday game.

34-year old Jeffery Scott Larsen, a head coach in Molalla, received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game. More problems developed and he was arrested the following morning for Criminal Trespassing of a Sporting Event. A second coach apparently involved was not arrested. Photo: Clackamas County Sheriff

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - A disturbance that erupted on the basketball court at Estacada High School Saturday led to the arrest of a coach for Criminal Trespassing of a Sporting Event.

Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies in Estacada were called to the school at noon after a report of a disturbance on the court.

Detective Jim Strovink, Spokesman for the agency, says the problems involved adults who apparently did not appreciate the way an officiating 17-year old referee had been calling the 6th grade girls basketball game between Estacada and Molalla.

Strovink says the deputy who arrived on the scene, Brian Pearson, recounted the story as it was related to him by the victim and witness accounts of what led to the disturbance: "During this basketball game played between the Estacada and Molalla 6th grade girls' teams, the Molalla head coach received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game."

Pearson says the coach, 34-year old Jeffery Scott Larsen, failed to leave the game floor and remained in a corner of the building while continuing to verbally harass the referee of the game. The referee is identified as 17-year old Houston Webb, 3.75 GPA student from Estacada High School.

Pearson says the alleged conduct demonstrated by Coach Jeffery Larsen would constitute a Class C Misdemeanor; Criminal Trespassing of a Sporting Event.

"Detailed information received at the scene reveals Coach Jeffery Scott Larsen received his first technical foul during the first-half of the game, while he became excessively argumentative when objecting to a foul called on one of his players."

The second technical foul was instituted at the beginning of the 2nd half, Pearson said, with a resulting ejection from the game. He said that is "when Coach Larsen became increasingly angry at the officiating and hastily slammed his clipboard down on a 6th grade girls hand, who was positioned at a courtside table acting as the designated scorekeeper."

He says the girl sustained a cut to her hand, not requiring sutures or medical attention.

Then more information came through Pearson said, indicating that Coach Larsen had failed to leave the arena when ejected, "as prescribed by law, opting to stand in a corner of the hall, continuing to yell at the officiating, and continuing to coach his players from a corner of the gym. It was during this point in time, when the Molalla fans became more immersed in the taunting of the referee, and the electrified fan hostility continued to escalate with time."

He says that antagonism was carried onto the floor at the end of the game when both the Estacada and Molalla fans swarmed the floor verbally facing-off against each other. No physical injuries were reported.

"At the conclusion of the game, witnesses report Coach Larsen advanced rapidly onto the basketball court while grabbing the arm of referee Houston Webb, and menacingly cocked his arm back with a clenched fist -- calling him a jackass and an *** hole!" Pearson said.

At the same time, reportedly a Molalla Assistant Coach, identified as 33-year old James Robert Ulin of Molalla, came onto the floor and is reported to have violently pushed the intervening Estacada Junior High School Principal and Coach, 47-year old Kevin Olds, who had come onto the floor to help save from harm and defend the young referee.

Principal/Coach Kevin Olds told Detective Strovink shortly after the incident, "There were an estimated 75 parents and children in attendance who witnessed this event. Many of the girls were frightened… crying… and fleeing the building with their parents."

Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies say they learned from witnesses the two Molalla coaches were told the Sheriff's Office were summoned; however, the coaches elected to leave the scene prior to the Deputies arrival.

Investigating deputies report they were unable to locate Jeffery Scott Larsen at his residential address in Molalla later in the day. Strovink says Larsen apparently called a friend that works for Molalla Police who was off-duty shortly after the Estacada event, seeking advice or information pertaining to his present situation.

Strovink says today at 9:00 AM, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Deputy Brian Pearson personally contacted Jeffery Scott Larsen at his residence in Molalla, seeking his comments and accounting of the events reported earlier by witnesses at the Estacada High School.

"Jeffery Scott Larsen was very cooperative with this investigating Deputy, and explained to Deputy Pearson that the atmosphere surrounding the event at the Estacada High School was fully charged at the time," Strovink said.

Jeffery Scott Larsen was taken into custody by Deputy Pearson and transported to the Clackamas County Jail. Larsen was cited and released for the Class C Misdemeanor; Criminal Trespassing of a Sporting Event. He has an appearance date set for March 17th at 3:00 PM in the Clackamas County Circuit Court, Oregon City.

Deputy Pearson says he also interviewed the identified Assistant Molalla Coach, James Robert Ulin, at his residence today in Molalla.

"Ulin was described to be as equally cooperative with authorities as Jeffery Larsen; however, James Ulin was not cited or taken into custody -- this investigation continues and additional charges may follow," Strovink said.