Police arrested a 30-year-old man Friday in connection with an assault on a soccer referee during a game last month in San Francisco's Oceanview neighborhood.
After identifying the suspect and obtaining a search warrant, officers located Gabriel Lopezalcocer at a home in the 200 block of South 23rd Street in Richmond and arrested him on suspicion of battery resulting in serious injury, according to police.
On Feb. 21, around 10 a.m., officers responded to the Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreational Center at 650 Capitol Ave. for a report of an assault, police said.
At the time, an adult soccer league was using the field to play a game.
Police learned the referee had issued a red car to a player, causing the player to be ejected from the game.
The player, later identified as Lopezalcocer, then allegedly ran up to the referee from behind and punched him in the side of his head, according to police.
As a result the referee suffered a broken jaw and lost several teeth. He was taken to a hospital is recuperating from his injuries.
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Lopez was booked into the San Francisco County jail, police said.
