A sheriff's deputy and a youth baseball umpire have been arrested for their parts in an altercation at a youth baseball tournament in Starkville, Miss.
According to The Dispatch, the incident took place Sunday after a game at the Cornerstone Sports Complex. Oktibbeha County deputy Lt. Darrell Holley, a coach for the local 14U Sports Performance Center Select team, and Jeff Akins, an umpire for the tournament, were arrested on misdemeanor charges.
A parent caught video of the incident and posted it online.
What prompted the fight has not been confirmed, but video shows Holley and Akins pushing and shoving each other near the pitcher's mound.
Grand Slam, the organization overseeing the tournament, condemned the incident.
“Grand Slam Mississippi unequivocally condemns the events that took place during the Starkville tournament. Youth sports are to be built on respect, integrity, and safety, and any actions that undermine those values are not acceptable,” said Grand Slam Mississippi director Mike Narmour. “Violence of any kind has no place in our organization and will not be tolerated. We are committed to addressing this matter appropriately and ensuring a safe, respectful environment for all participants.”
Sports Performance Center, a Starkville-based baseball training facility, responded to the incident involving one of its teams.
“First and foremost, we want to be clear: there is no place in youth sports for violence or physical confrontation of any kind. SPC was built not only to offer opportunities for athletes of all levels to learn the game, but to promote growth through the game of baseball that will positively impact our players off the field as well,” the organization’s statement reads.
“We believe this sport is an avenue through which players learn discipline, accountability, sportsmanship, respect, and resilience. Today’s actions did not reflect those values, and any behavior that obstructs these goals will not be tolerated. We are taking this matter very seriously and will continue to address it appropriately.”
