By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer on paid detail at a Somerville High School Varsity Hockey game Saturday evening took notice of a man who was being verbally abusive to the Somerville High coach.

The man, later identified as Anthony Silvestri, 60, was apparently upset because the coach had changed goal tenders toward the end of the game and the opposing team had scored.

Silvestri reportedly continued yelling at the coach, using profanity, and continued to blame him for “blowing the game.”

The officer approached Silvestri and advised him that he could not talk that way in the presence of family with children, as well as the team members who are high school students.

Silvestri then turned his vitriol towards the police officer, according to reports, and began cursing and behaving in a belligerent manner.

The officer then decided that he would have to physically escort Silvestri off the premises. When he approached Silvestri he reportedly pulled back and told the officer not to touch him, while continuing to curse loudly.

The officer managed to usher Silvestri out to the lobby but he reportedly broke free and assumed a fighting stance. With that, the officer administered a burst of pepper spray to Silvestri’s face and ordered him to place his hands behind his back, which he refused to do, police said.

A struggle ensued, as Silvestri reportedly continued to curse and resist being placed under arrest. The officer and Silvestri both slammed into a wall and ended up on the ground. The incident came to a close after the officer managed to handcuff Silvestri and remove him from premises.

Silvestri was placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and threat to commit a crime.