Stonington ― Stonington Police arrested a Mohegan Tribal police officer and former president of the state police union for refusing to leave a Stonington High School football game earlier this month.

Steven G. Rief, 58, was charged on Sept. 12 with first-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor, after he refused to leave a varsity football game between Stonington and Killingly at Stonington High School.

Rief, who police said in their report appeared to be intoxicated, was asked to leave by Stonington Athletic Director Bryan Morrone.

Rief brought a Killingly High School banner to the game and attached it to a chain link fence in front of the home team’s bleachers. Morrone said he didn’t have a problem with the banner itself but, hoping to avoid any conflicts among the nearly 1,000 people in attendance, had encouraged Rief to hang the banner behind the Killingly team.

Rief refused.

“I’ve never had anyone want to do what he did and not understand why it was a bad idea,” Morrone said.

Later in the game, police said, a disturbance started when a Stonington fan hung a sweatshirt to cover the Killingly banner and an argument ensued with Rief. Morrone said at that point he simply asked that the banner be removed to avoid any escalation of the situation. Rief again refused, police said.

There were three police officers at the game that day as part of a security detail, including Stonington Police Detective Greg Howard, who is also a state representative for the 43rd House District.

Howard wrote in the report that it was apparent Rief was intoxicated “as his speech was slurred, his eyes glossy and I could detect the odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath.” Howard had activated his body camera to document the interaction with Rief.

Howard told Rief the banner needed to come down while Rief replied that “he had no obligation to comply with the policies of the school or the direction of the Athletic Director.”

Howard wrote in the report that he explained to Rief that Morrone was an agent of the school and has the authority to enforce policies or rules in the interest of safety and crowd control at the event.”

Rief continued to argue and Morrone eventually asked Rief to leave. Rief questioned the legality of that request.

Howard wrote that he and Sgt. William Morrison repeatedly told Rief he had to leave but he refused.

“It is important to note that this was occurring in the front of the bleachers and the large crowd in the bleachers was becoming increasingly engaged in the scene; and with only two officers there, I was concerned that if we didn’t get Rief under control and away from the area, a larger incident may occur.”

Howard wrote that they gave Rief one final warning to leave but he dismissed the warning. Police then placed Rief under arrest, put him in handcuffs and escorted away from the field.

The report states that as Rief was being led to a police cruiser, he maintained he had a “First Amendment right” to remain at the game because it was a public school.

Morrone credited police officers with keeping the situation from getting out of hand.

“Our police officers were great. They tried everything they could do to deescalate the situation,” Morrone said.

Rief was released on a promise to appear in court and was scheduled to make his first appearance in Norwich Superior Court on Tuesday. A spokesperson with the Mohegan Tribe did not respond to a request for a comment on Tuesday.

g.smith@theday.com

Editor’s note: This version corrects the charge against Steven Rief.