Alberto Escartin Ramos, of Lakeland, was detained by deputies from Polk County Sheriff’s Office last week after being accused of attacking the children’s baseball umpire over what he believed to be a bad call during a game, law enforcement said.
Officers made the arrest after responding to Highland City Ball Park on 3930 Ball Park Road in Lakeland on Friday evening, The Ledger reported.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, the suspect specifically went to the little league clubhouse to complain about an umpire’s decision. Police said Ramos started screaming at the victim, who has not been named. The situation escalated after the 22-year-old was asked to leave the ballpark.
He allegedly responded by screaming at the victim that he would “kick his ass.” Ramos then punched the umpire in the face, resulting in a broken tooth and cut lip, police said. The victim was treated for injuries at the scene by first responders from Polk County Fire and Rescue.
Ramos bailed out of jail after posting $1,000 bond. In a brief statement on the case, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd blasted the suspect’s alleged actions after the game.
“Assaulting a little league official while he’s officiating at a game where children are supposed to be having fun, and learning sportsmanlike behavior; not only was he arrested, he’s also been trespassed from the ballpark,” Judd said, describing the behavior as “completely inexcusable.”
Prior to the altercation, the suspect had been watching his nephew play in one of the Friday games at the ballpark, The Ledger reported, citing a sheriff’s office spokeswoman.
The paper obtained a recording of a call to police made by a female witness, who told dispatch the victim was bleeding profusely. The audio was published by the Tampa Bay Times.
“A parent just got into an altercation and punched one of our umpires,” the woman can be heard saying in the recording. “We were trying to get him to leave the park, and he wouldn’t leave the umpire alone. The umpire said, ‘You need to get out,’ and they just started swinging.’”
The website for the league says all parents of children who play in the games have to abide by a “Sport Parent Code of Conduct” or face potential suspensions or bans.
“I will respect the officials and their authority during games and will never question, discuss, or confront coaches at the game field, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place,” one section of the the conduct agreement reads.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office released the suspect’s mugshot to its website yesterday.
