Posted at: 10/28/2009 10:09 AM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 10/28/2009 6:52 PM
By: Berkeley Brean

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Man accused of hitting referee with helmet arrested

Thrilled and relieved. That's what the family of a local referee is saying tonight after the arrest of a local football player.

The vicious attack happened Saturday night at the end of a minor league football game. Rochester Police say Leon Woods took his helmet and smashed it on the referee's face. Woods is now charged with first degree assault. Police arrested him late last night at his work.

The victim’s son, Peter McCabe III said, “It's definitely a sigh of relief but we're still focused on getting him better.”

It happened at the end of a football game. Court papers say Leon Woods used his helmet like a weapon, hitting referee Peter McCabe in the face.

The game was Saturday night but Leon Woods wasn't arrested until last night.

After court today, his lawyer would barely stop to talk to our cameras. Woods’ lawyer Joe Dinolfo said, “I spoke with him yesterday evening our intention was to  turn ourselves in 50 and the Rochester Police Department got there at his work and arrested him.”

Some friends of Leon Woods were in court but just as reluctant to talk. Christina Bridges said, “Yeah, I was at the game, but I didn't see nothing.”

“I realized the ref was down on the ground. I ran over to assist and it was pretty bad. It was pretty bad.” Jonathan Sharp is the owner-player of the Cougars football team. He says no one on his team stonewalled police. In fact, he says they tried to help. “I, myself, the Western New York Cougars organization we deeply apologize to the McCabe family.”

Peter McCabe says his family is just focused on getting his father better but today's news helps. “He doesn't like to sit still for very long, so having to sit around and not do anything is killing him the most. He's definitely happy that this guy is behind bars so he's not going to hurt anybody else.”

Leon Woods pled not guilty. He is currently in jail on $10,000 bail.

Woods has been in trouble before. He was arrested in July for a domestic harassment charge. Woods was accused of choking his pregnant girlfriend.

Because of what happened on Saturday, the team is worried they'll get kicked out of the league. At the very least they might be stopped from using city fields.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.