Fontana Players Face Battery Charges From Playoff Melee

Five Fontana High football players are facing misdemeanor battery charges for their roles in an incident after a playoff game against Loyola on Nov. 19, a Los Angeles Police detective said Friday.

The incident began when a Fontana player punched a Loyola assistant coach during the postgame handshake after Loyola’s 28-7 victory in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

After investigations by the Los Angeles Community College District police and the LAPD, four juveniles were arrested Wednesday and charged with misdemeanor battery at the West Valley station, Det. Rick Swanston said. They were later released to their parents.

The fifth player, Anthony Robinson, 18, was not arrested, but on Friday was mailed a voluntary appearance letter by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, a said Richard A. Schmidt, assistant city attorney.