Teacher Arrested At Sporting Event Resigns From Derby Nonprofit

DERBY, CT — A Milford-based teacher accused of making sexually inappropriate comments to teens at a Hartford Yard Goats game has resigned from TEAM’s Board of Directors.

John Hatfield, 40, was charged July 11 with disorderly conduct and first-degree criminal trespass.

Hartford police claim Hatfield and Orange Police Sgt. Frank Koshes were intoxicated, caused a disturbance and refused to leave the premises. Koshes was also arrested.

On Friday, TEAM Inc. of Derby announced Hatfield has resigned from its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

“The Board has accepted Mr. Hatfield’s resignation,” the announcement said. “The organization’s governance and operations continue without interruption, and the Board remains fully focused on advancing TEAM’s mission and serving the Valley region.”

TEAM said in the announcement it will not be commenting any further on the matter.

TEAM is a nonprofit organization aimed at helping to reduce poverty, and it provides an array of services. These include helping the elderly, and providing Meals on Wheels, early childhood programming, and assistance in the areas of employment, training, and housing, according to its website.

TEAM serves Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton and Woodbridge. It also provides Early Childhood & Head Start services in Naugatuck and Waterbury, its website says.

Hatfield is a social studies instructor at Platt Technical High School in Milford and a Seymour Board of Education member.

Kerry Markey, communications director for Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS), which oversees Platt Technical High School, has said it is aware of Hatfield’s arrest and is reviewing the matter. According to Markey, Hatfield is not currently in a school building or interacting with students because it is summer break.

Seymour Superintendent of Schools Susan Compton has not responded to a request for comment. Hatfield is still listed on the district’s website as a school board member.

According to police reports on the incident, a female employee at the Yard Goats Team Store told police she overheard Hatfield make inappropriate comments towards a group of juveniles stating he would "bang" them. The employee understood the comment to mean he would engage in sexual activity with the juveniles, police reports show.

The witness told police one of the juveniles silently whispered, “Help me!”

The witness said Hatfield entered the store and asked about the age of another employee inside. That worker is about 15 or 16 years old, according to police.

“She reported Mr. Hatfield continued to make inappropriate and sexual comments about the juvenile employee,” police wrote, in a report.

Neither man has entered a plea yet. Hatfield appears in court next on July 31, while Koshes is due back in court on July 30.

Read more:

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