Police: Ceres coach instigated fight with pizza worker

CERES -- The coach of a youth football team who claimed to have no knowledge of who committed an assault and robbery at a pizza restaurant was arrested Tuesday.

Daniel McGill, 28, told The Bee on Monday, "When I heard the commotion, I just got my family and left."

He was arrested Tuesday on suspicion that he was part of that commotion by fighting with a Rico's pizza employee and taking money from the cash register.

He spent hours at Rico's Pizza on Hatch Road on Oct. 22 with his Ceres Cardinals football teams. The teams' president, Anthony Estrada, had organized a banquet, which started in the afternoon and lasted almost until midnight, when the assault and robbery occurred. The party was attended by about 60 people.

Ceres police Sgt. Jose Berber said McGill was the man seen in surveillance footage engaging in a verbal confrontation with a Rico's employee at the cash register. A second man has not been identified.

After the altercation, the second man walked behind the counter and punched the employee several times, knocking him to the ground.

Then the man identified as McGill picked up the register, threw it on the ground and took money from it, police said.

Monday, McGill told The Bee the incident "was sad," adding, "My main concern is for the organization."

McGill was suspended last week along with Estrada and assistant vice president Jesus Montes.

The Cardinals belong to the 22-team Trans Valley Youth Football League, geared to children ages 6 to 14. League president John Nixon sent a letter to parents explaining the criminal investigation and the reason for the suspensions.

Estrada scoffed at claims by Ceres police that he was uncooperative and told The Bee on Monday he knew nothing about the robbery. He said that he left the restaurant before the crime occurred.

McGill was being held at the downtown men's jail Tuesday night on charges of robbery, harboring a criminal and resisting arrest.

Berber would not comment about McGill's arrest Tuesday or the outstanding second assailant, saying it could compromise the investigation.

Bee staff writer Erin Tracy can be reached at etracy@modbee.com or (209) 578-2366.