EDINBURG, Texas (VALLEY CENTRAL) – A former Edinburg football player accused of tackling a referee continues to face both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit.
Emmanuel Duron, 22, was arrested in December 2020 after he was seen tackling a referee during a football game between Edinburg High School and PSJA High School. The alleged assault occurred after Duron was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Video of the incident, which shows Duron charging at the referee before taking off his helmet and ramming him, quickly went viral on social media. Duron was escorted from the stadium by Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District police after being restrained by teammates and coaches.
Edinburg CISD disqualified the team from making the playoffs, and Duron was banned from competing in high school sports.
Mr. Duron was charged with assault causing injury and has been in and out of court since late 2020. After several delays, Duron has scheduled a pretrial hearing in the assault case for March 21.
lawsuit
Chief trial judge Alfred “Fred” Gracia filed the lawsuit against Duron and two other parties in 464th District Court in 2022. Rio Grande Texas Sports Officials Association Football Chapter and Southwest Officials Association (Texas Sports Officials Association, or TASO).
The complaint states that Duron stormed onto the field and “brutally bowled Gracia in front of the thousands of Rio Grande Valley residents in attendance.” Gracia said she was left vulnerable to the attack even though representatives from TASO, UIL and the school district were present.
The lawsuit cited Gracia's love of football, saying that up until the assault, he had dedicated 30 years of his life to the sport and was proud to be involved in the sport.
“As a result of this unavoidable assault, he continues to suffer embarrassment, pain, and ongoing emotional and physical harm,” the document states.
The lawsuit cites Duron's “history of violent behavior,” including an incident earlier that year in which he shoved a referee at a soccer game. Gracia's lawyers argue that the defendants violated civil and criminal law, putting Gracia's life in danger that day.
“As a direct result of the assault, Mr. Gracia suffered severe, life-altering injuries,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit alleges that TASO failed to provide a safe environment for Gracia and his crew that night, and that his injuries were a direct result of their “negligence, carelessness, and reckless disregard of duty.” claims.
The document concludes by stating that Gracia had to seek medical attention and treatment, which resulted in medical expenses. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Gracia has suffered physical pain, disfigurement, disability, and emotional distress that will continue into the future, if not permanently.
For this reason, Gracia is seeking financial relief in excess of $1 million.
TASO's reply
On March 6, TASO filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Gracia “meritlessly” brought the case against them while Duron and the school district testified that they were responsible for Duron's actions. .
“Based on this evidence, no reasonable mind could dispute that Duron was under the control and direction of Edinburg High School at the time of the incident and, therefore, TASO is vicariously liable for Duron's actions.” ,” the motion states.
The document also states that Mr. Gracia is not and has never been an employee of TASO, but is an independent contractor and only a member.
drug charges
Duron faces other drug-related charges stemming from an incident that occurred two years after the alleged assault. The former star was arrested in March 2022 after cocaine was found in his car, police said.
According to arrest records, officers responded to Los Lagos Drive in Edinburg and found Duron asleep in the driver's seat of his vehicle, and there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
When police searched the vehicle, they found a plastic bag containing 6 grams of cocaine, documents state. Records show he was arrested on a felony charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance.
Mr. Duron waived his arraignment and the state informed the court that Mr. Duron still had a pending assault charge and wanted the case resolved. On March 7th, he appeared in court again, and his defense date was scheduled for April 10th.
