Umpire Arrested Following Fight With Camden Sheriff’s Deputy At Ballparks National

A fight between an Umpire and a Parent over the weekend at Ballparks National lands the Umpire behind bars.

According to the Camden County Sheriff’s office, deputies were called out Saturday to the park by a parent claiming to have been shoved by the umpire.

During the investigation, the deputy approached the umpire for a statement and he refused, attempting to walk away from the conversation.

When the deputy attempted to stop the umpire, now identified as 56-year-old Neal Sidebottom of Versailles, Sidebottom instead grabbed the deputy, knocked him to the ground and put him in what witnesses described as a “choke hold.”

After a brief struggle, and some assistance from the spectators, the deputy took Sidebottom into custody.

He faces charges of 1st Degree Assault and Resisting Arrest and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

The deputy was transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries received during the struggle.

Read more:

Camdenton, MO – 05-15-23 – On Saturday evening, 05-13-23, deputies were dispatched to Ballparks National on Kissick Way in Macks Creek for a disturbance involving an umpire and a player’s parent.

Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with a witness who claimed an umpire shoved her out of his way during a disagreement.  When the deputy approached the umpire to get his statement, the umpire refused to identify himself.  The umpire then attempted to walk away from the deputy who was still conducting his investigation.  When the deputy stopped the umpire, he turned on the deputy and took him to the ground in what witnesses described as a choke hold.  After a struggle, and with assistance from several spectators, the deputy was able to take the umpire into custody and identify him as 56-year-old Neal A Sidebottom of Versailles.

The deputy was later transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries received during the struggle with Sidebottom.

Sidebottom was arrested and transported to the Camden County Adult Detention Facility.  He is charged with the Class A Felony of 1^st Degree Assault Special Victim with Serious Physical Injury and the Class A Misdemeanor of Resisting Arrest.  He is being held on a $100,000 surety bond.

A reminder that these charges are merely allegations of wrongdoing. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.