Bar flap leads to assistant coach’s arrest
An assistant coach for the LSU women’s basketball team was arrested Jan. 12 and accused of drunkenly yelling at a police officer at a Third Street bar in downtown Baton Rouge, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Anthony “Tony” Perotti, 6810 Jefferson Highway, was booked into Parish Prison on one count each of entering or remaining after being forbidden and disturbing the peace by intoxication.
A security guard at City Bar, 333 Third St., flagged down a police officer at 2:15 a.m. after Perotti began cursing at him, the affidavit says. The officer spoke with Perotti, who appeared to be “intoxicated and belligerent,” the affidavit says.
Perotti argued with the officer as the officer told him to leave the bar, the affidavit says.
The officer finally arrested Perotti after repeatedly telling him to leave, the affidavit says.
Bill Martin, spokesman for the LSU women’s basketball team, said the school was well aware of the allegations against Perotti and would have no further comment because it is an ongoing legal matter.
Martin said Perotti has been present for all of LSU’s games and practices since the incident, including Sunday’s home game against Vanderbilt and Tuesday’s practice. LSU head coach Nikki Caldwell and Perotti also declined comment.
A native of Millerton, N.Y., Perotti, 36, came with Caldwell from UCLA in 2011 along with her other two assistants there, Tasha Butts and Stacie Terry.
Perotti served under Caldwell for her three seasons at UCLA, in 2008-11. He was an assistant coach at Northern Arizona, from 2004-08, and at the University of San Francisco, from 1999-2004.
Perotti received a graduate degree from San Francisco after earning his undergraduate degree from Tennessee in 1999.
Caldwell played at Tennessee and served as a graduate assistant coach there at the time.