Joaquin Junco Jr./ Staff
A Southwestern College campus police officer had to pull his cruiser onto the pitch and arm himself with a shotgun to disperse an unruly crowd of San Diego City College soccer players and their supporters following a tense SWC playoff victory. No one was arrested and no injuries were reported.
SDCC fans and parents attempted to engage SWC players but were blocked by SWC police and public safety officers.
Tempers flared throughout the match. Altercations began in the first half when freshman defender Sergio Villalva and SD City keeper Oscar Vasquez engaged in a shoving match. Several Knight players assaulted Villalva and one put him in a chokehold. Villalva’s Jaguar teammates rushed to his aid and minutes of chaos ensued. Referees broke up the scuffle and play resumed.
Spectators from both sides of the field shouted at referees. A second confrontation erupted in the second half when an SD City defender bloodied his lip during play. Pushing and shoving ensued, and an SD City player spit in the Jaguars’ direction. Referees stopped play to break up the fight and allow teams to cool off. Regulation ended with the score tied 0-0.
SWC scored on SD City goalkeeper Vasquez for the winning goal. When the final whistle blew, both team’s benches and spectators poured on to the field.
SWC Campus Police attempted to separate Jaguar players and SD City supporters. Some SD City parents refused to follow police orders to leave the field. One parent challenged Officer Gen Murofushi to “do something about” his refusal to leave the area. Murofushi calmly walked to his police cruiser and pulled out his beanbag shotgun. He cocked the gun and the vociferous SD City supporters slowly drifted away without further incident. SWC players and fans praised Murofushi for staying calm but resolute, and diffusing a potentially-violent situation without injuries.
