The argument that led to a

local youth basketball coach being cut by a knife is in dispute by both

the coaches and the referee who allegedly wielded the knife.

Both sides have told police

different stories about how the situation escalated to the point where

referee Oliver Louis Wood, 46, of Newnan used the knife to cut coach Jerry

William Sweeney, 48, of Tyrone on the arm.

Wood has been released on $50,000

bond. He is charged with aggravated assault and carrying a weapon on school

property.

The incident, which occurred

in the gym of Spring Hill Elementary School Tuesday evening, occurred

in front of several young children. It happened directly after the end

of a playoff game involving 7- and 8-year-old children, and the argument

had something to do with the officiating of the game, police said.

Lt. Tom Kirkbride of the Fayetteville

Police Department said police are receiving conflicting statements about

what happened. The matter is still under investigation, he added.

The game was being conducted

to local parents, FCYBA President Carlos Garza said the association "will

do whatever is necessary to make sure this type of situation will not

happen again."

Kirkbride confirmed that security

guards are not employed by the association for these games. Garza could

not be reached for comment by press time.

"I am appalled that a

recreational activity such as this could have generated such intense emotions

that two adults became involved in a very dangerous altercation,"

Garza said in the statement. "However, I wish to assure all parents

that our games remain safe and will continue to be available to our kids

so that they can enjoy a wholesome activity in this county."

Wood was scheduled to work

the game by the South Atlanta Basketball Officials, which is run by Phil

Sisk. Sisk started the group when he became upset with officials missing

games when his children played youth sports in Fayette County.

According to Sisk, Wood was

also a trained high school referee and received much training on how to

deal with irate coaches and parents. Sisk added that he wouldn't have

used Wood without knowing he was a competent referee.

"Situations like this

are very rare and also very unfortunate," Sisk said. "Usually,

it's the referee who ends up being attacked."

Wood is a minister and substitute

teacher and bus driver, Sisk added.

According to police, the incident

began after the game when Wood and an assistant coach got into an argument.

The assistant coach apparently wanted to fill out a form to complain about

the officiating during the game, Kirkbride said.

Sweeney tried to break up the

argument and got cut in the process, police said.

Wood left the gym to dispose

of the knife and was arrested without incident when he came back inside,

Kirkbride said. He also told police where the knife was on a nearby playground,

where a child could have found it, Kirkbride added.

All games at Spring Hill have

been cancelled until further notice, according to the FCYBA Web site.

Sweeney received approximately

17-18 stitches to close the wound.

Although the event was not

conducted by the Fayette County School System, the schools offered counseling

to any students who witnessed the incident.