A high school basketball coach from Milford is on administrative leave, accused of shoving one of his players, swearing at him and badmouthing him to other members of the team.

Joe Meade, 67, is charged with breach of peace for an incident during JV basketball practice at Foran High School on Feb. 19.

According to his arrest warrant, cameras in the gym caught Meade putting his hands on a 15-year-old player's chest and shoving him approximately 4-5 feet backwards.

The warrant said police spoke with the player, who told them Meade has always had an issue with him, and when Meade benched him during a game, the teen talked back to him. But the player said Meade was never physical until that practice.

"I was scared and overwhelmed by this situation. He used his full force out of pure anger and frustration. I was embarrassed and uncomfortable around my team. He also swore at me directly, making me feel threatened and violated," the teen told police, per the warrant.

After practice, Meade allegedly disparaged the player in the locker room to some of his teammates. They told police Meade called the player "a five-time felon" - which appears to have no merit - and another insulting term and said, "I hope the kid doesn't come back after that," according to the warrant. Police spoke with Meade, whose side of the story is also outlined in the warrant. Meade said he was trying to explain a drill and a couple kids were talking while he was talking.

"This has been an on-going issue, and I reacted. I shoved him to try to get his attention and to get him to stop, and I made a mistake," Meade told police, according to the warrant.

Meade also told police that the teen is disrespectful and has been a distraction to the team for a while, which the coach has been trying to address.

"Meade said the shove occurred out of frustration, and it was a poor reaction that he has to live with," police wrote in the warrant.

The warrant also said Meade noted that he had not taken his blood pressure medication that day, and "he believed it could've affected him negatively because he has never put his hands on a kid before." The teen's father told News 12 the incident has ruined his son's self-worth.

He also shared messages that he's received since this incident from other coaches his son played for.

In those messages, the coaches called the teen a great kid, who's very coachable, respectful and a team player. Milford Public Schools' Superintendent Anna Cutaia released the following statement:

"Mr. Meade has been placed on administrative leave from the Milford Public Schools as this matter is under investigation. This is also an open police matter, and therefore we cannot share other specific details.

"We do not tolerate any actions that put our students at risk and in harm’s way. The safety and well-being of all students and staff is our top priority, so we took immediate action to protect our students."

Meade had no comment when contacted by News 12. He was released on a promise to appear and is due in court March 28.