Coach accused of attacking player wants to move forward

HARTFORD -- 47-year-old Hartford AAU baksetball coach Fred Freeman was accused of choking and punching one of his 17-year-old players outside a tournament near Indianapolis. Tuesday, July 10th, special prosecutors said Freeman would not be charged in the case, and on Wednesday, Freeman spoke with FOX6 News, saying he knew "the truth would come out" in the case.

Prosecutors in the case say there wasn't enough evidence to pursue charges against Freeman. He was released from jail, and spoke with FOX6 News about clearing his name, and trying to move forward.

"I'm not going to let one bad apple stop me from what I'm doing for these kids," Freeman said.

Freeman is the coach of the "Wisconsin Steelerz" an Amateur Athletics Union team. The team was participating in a tournament in Indiana when the incident occurred.

Officials said in a statement early Tuesday the victim told officers Freeman verbally abused her following the team's loss, and reported Freeman "punched her in the face, threw her to the ground and got on top of her, with his hands around her throat," according to a statement issued by Fishers police.

The victim reportedly sustained scratches and abrasions on her arms and legs.

Officers arrested Freeman at a Fisher's restaurant.

Freeman insisted he did nothing wrong.

"I did absolutely nothing wrong than break up a fight," Freeman said.

Freeman said he stepped in to break up a fight between his daughter and the accuser.

"She just started walking on the court, throwing a tantrum, cussing. The kid totally lose her composure. I kicked this kid off my team four or five weeks ago for the exact same kind of issues," Freeman said.

After losing the game, Freeman said he decided to send the girl home for good.

"I said 'this is the last time you're going to disrupt my team,'" Freeman said.

Freeman said the girl was trying to attack his daughter and that he had the accuser in a bear hug from behind, when the two fell to the ground.

"I'm scratched -- my knees, my forehead, my nose -- I'm all scratched up. This kid has a couple of scratches and abrasions on her arm," Freeman said.

FOX6 News attempted to reach out to the girl's family and went to her home, but calls were not returned Wednesday.

Freeman said he's trying to move on from Monday's incident, but feels his reputation will never be the same.

"When it's all said and done, this will turn out to be positive for my girls," Freeman said.

Freeman said he is considering a legal battle, since he feels his name as a coach has been tarnished. He says for now, he'll just focus on this weekend's tournament in Chicago.

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