Sergeant with Florida sheriff’s office accused of punching referee at youth soccer game

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace murder sergeant has been arrested after he punched a referee within the face throughout a youngsters’s soccer recreation, Sheriff T.Ok. Waters advised Information 6 accomplice WJXT-TV.

Sgt. Michael Russell, who has been faraway from his place in murder, was arrested Tuesday on a cost of battery on a sports activities official, Waters stated at a information convention.

“We by no means relish arresting an worker of this company. Nevertheless, our collective perception in transparency, openness and accountability outweighs any private allegiance,” Waters stated. “We’re a society of legal guidelines, and nobody is above these legal guidelines.”

Waters stated that, based on their investigation, Russell was at a youth soccer recreation Sunday morning in plain garments and off responsibility. When a struggle broke out between a few of the gamers, the referees tried to interrupt it up and have been blowing their whistles repeatedly, Waters stated.

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Russell then went onto the sector and punched one of many refs within the face, knocking the whistle out of his mouth, Waters stated.

“It’s actually complicated to me,” Waters stated when requested why Russell may need punched the referee. “It’s disappointing.”

Russell, a 14-year member of JSO, stays employed in the course of the investigation, Waters stated. He grew to become a sergeant in 2019.

Waters stated JSO will start an administrative overview after the felony investigation is full.

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