Pineville Police Officer Accused of Attacking Umpire at Softball Game
A Pineville police officer is accused of attacking an umpire at a softball game on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Monroe over the weekend.
45-year-old Pineville police Sgt. Edric Smith has been charged with battery of a school or recreation athletic contest official. According to the arrest affidavit, Smith was at the university on Saturday night to coach a softball game in which his daughter was playing.
The affidavit states that Smith told police the umpire threatened his daughter. It also says the umpire told police that Smith grabbed him and punched him in the face repeatedly. Smith admitted to the attack.
Pineville police chief Don Weatherford said on Monday that the department is conducting an internal investigation.
In a news release, Weatherford said the following:
The Pineville Police Department is disappointed by the events surrounding this arrest, but will investigate the incident thoroughly and in accordance with Civil Service Law. The Department takes serious any claim of misconduct and has strict policies regarding an officer’s behavior on and off duty.