Ravenwood parent charged in post-game incident
EmailBy CAROL STUART
Brentwood Home Page
A Ravenwood boys basketball parent was charged with simple assault against a juvenile after an incident that took place following the Raptors’ game at Hillsboro on Tuesday. Though not identified by police because of his age, the alleged victim apparently is a member of the RHS team.
Metro police issued the misdemeanor state citation against Robert Hodskins, father of sophomore guard Zach Hodskins, according to a Metro Police spokesperson. The elder Hodskins has a period of time to appear for booking on the charge.
The prosecutor in the case is listed as Kevin Robinson, father of Ravenwood senior point guard Devin Robinson.
A second suspect in the case was also a juvenile and hasn’t been charged.
The incident report said Metro Police responded to Hillsboro High School, the scene of an alleged assault.
“Victim and prosecutor stated Suspect No. 1 [Robert Hodskins] told the prosecutor to get his son under control, referring to the victim. Suspect No. 2 tackled the victim, but then both suspects began to assault the victim,” a police spokesman quoted from the incident report.
“We’re not allowed to talk about it at all,” Robert Hodskins’ wife Stephanie Hodskins said when reached by phone Thursday.
Ravenwood boys coach and school athletic director Patrick Whitlock referred any questions to Williamson County Schools officials.
“We are aware of an incident,” Jason Golden, attorney for Williamson County Schools, told Brentwood Home Page. “Our understanding is the police are involved, and we haven’t heard there has been a complete investigation. We’re unable to comment until that is resolved.”
Golden said the school system doesn’t “initiate anything until law enforcement says we can. We don’t want to run into the chance of interfering with an investigation.”
Ravenwood principal Dr. Pam Vaden could not be reached for comment.
It was previously reported that an altercation involving some Ravenwood fans began in the gymnasium after the game and spilled into the parking lot, drawing a crowd of onlookers and a number of Metro Police. A Ravenwood fan was questioned in handcuffs, and a police officer on the scene said the incident involved two Ravenwood parents, but not anyone with Hillsboro.
In the earlier game between Hillsboro and Ravenwood at RHS on Jan. 6, both schools were fined by the TSSAA for players allegedly leaving the bench area for a near-fight toward the end of the game following a shoving incident involving both teams.
I realize this article says no one with Hillsboro was involved, but something really needs to be done about the hostile atmosphere at Hillsboro High School. Although my children now go to Brentwood schools, I had a son who play at Independence and it was same thing when they played Hillsboro. The HHS staff and security personnel will stand around and watch as HHS students and parents taunt visitors during and after a game. We always had to gather into a group and walk to our cars together because of the verbal threats & hostile attitudes toward us - especially when we won! It was unbelievable to me, and happened at EVERY basketball game I attended. It is a miracle there have not been more stories about problems there; or maybe we just have heard about them!
