A Florida police sergeant allegedly hit a referee in the face at a children’s soccer game Saturday.
Sergeant Michael Russell was arrested Tuesday morning for battery, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said at a press conference.
BREAKING UPDATE: Sgt. Michael Russell, who has been removed from his position in homicide, was arrested this morning on a charge of battery on a sports official, Sheriff T.K. Waters said.
— News4JAX (@wjxt4) March 28, 2023
“Over this past weekend, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Integrity and Special Investigations Unit commenced an investigation pertaining to Sergeant Russell,” Waters said during the press conference. “This morning Sergeant Russell was arrested.”
Russell was at the game in plain clothes and off duty, according to police. While he was there, a fight broke out between the two teams.
As the referees were trying to break up the fight, Russell allegedly went up to a referee and struck him in the face, knocking the whistle out of the referee’s mouth. (RELATED: Police Say Mom Punched Several Kids And A Referee During Middle School Basketball Game)
“If one of our employees violates a criminal statute, this agency will fully investigate that violation or that allegation,” Waters added.
Russell had worked for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for 14 years at the time of the incident. He is still employed with the department, according to Waters.