Foul Play: Missouri Baseball Umpire Accused of Putting Sheriff in Chokehold After Getting in Fight With Parent

A Missouri man who was umpiring a baseball game has been arrested after he allegedly attacked a sheriff's deputy called to the scene to check out a disturbance between the ump and a parent, according to authorities.

On May 13, deputies were dispatched to a ballpark in Macks Creek for a disturbance involving an umpire and one of the player’s parents, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office said.

Once at the scene, police spoke with a witness who claimed an umpire shoved her out of his way during a disagreement.

The officer approached the umpire to get his statement, but the umpire refused to identify himself, officials said.

The umpire then tried walking away from the deputy, who was still trying to conduct his investigation. The deputy stopped the umpire, who allegedly turned on the deputy and took him to the ground in what witnesses described as a “chokehold,” police said.

A struggle ensued, but the deputy was eventually able to take the umpire into custody with the assistance of several spectators, according to reports. Officials identified the suspect as 56-year-old Neal Sidebottom.

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries received during the struggle.

Sidebottom was arrested and booked into the Camden County Adult Detention Facility, officials said.

He was charged with first-degree assault - special victim with serious physical injury, and resisting arrest. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.