Man Charged With Assaulting Boy At 'The Pit': East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — A man has been arrested and charged with assaulting a boy after a skirmish at a youth baseball game the day before, according to police.

Kenneth Woodward, 50, of New Haven, was arrested on a warrant this week. Woodward was taken into custody after a motor vehicle stop on Thursday and charged with second-degree breach of peace and third-degree assault.

East Haven Police were contacted June 9 by a concerned parent who said his son had been assaulted by an adult while attending a youth baseball game at Kennedy Baseball Field, better known as “The Pit" the day before (June 8).

Police learned that the juvenile victim had been arguing with another juvenile via Snapchat. As the argument escalated, the two decided to meet at the field, police said.

The juvenile victim told police that the other juvenile was brought to the field to fight by a man who was identified as Woodward.

The juvenile victim also said that Woodward continued to encourage his juvenile friend to fight and was coaching him on what to do while they were actively fighting, according to police.

The juvenile victim told police that while they were fighting, Woodward grabbed him from behind in a choke hold and wrestled him to the ground. He also said that while in the choke hold, Woodward punched him in the face with a closed fist with his free hand, according to police.

The juvenile victim said he was able to break free from Woodward and attempted to leave the area, but Woodward and the other juvenile followed him in Woodward’s vehicle in a further attempt to intimidate him.

Woodward was released on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in New Haven Superior Court on Aug. 28.