Posted on: Tuesday, August 26, 2003

Prosecutors drop case against former Baldwin soccer player

Advertiser Staff

City prosecutors will not press charges against a former Baldwin High School soccer player who knocked down a referee after Baldwin's 4-3 loss to Pearl City in a state tournament game on Feb. 13.

Referee Kaleo Benz said prosecutors notified him several months ago that they were dropping the harassment case against Ekolu Saffrey.

"They dropped the case because there was not enough evidence," Benz said yesterday. "The main keyword was the injury. Did I get hurt?"

Benz was not injured after Saffrey rushed up behind him and shoved him to the ground immediately after the final whistle.

As a result of the incident, Baldwin forfeited its next game and eliminated itself from the tournament.

School officials expelled Saffrey, but the senior was allowed to attend classes while he appealed to the Department of Education. In addition, officials placed the Baldwin boys soccer team on one-year "conduct probation."

Head coach Fred Guzman was released by Baldwin and banned from coaching in the Maui Interscholastic League for five years by the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association and the MIL. Guzman said he would appeal the penalties.