Off-duty officers injured at game

October 10, 2004
Texas:  Two Everman police officers who asked a man and woman who were smoking to leave a high school football game Friday night ended up in a violent melee as dozens of young people converged on the scene.

The two off-duty officers, who were not identified, suffered minor injuries in the ruckus, including bruised ribs and a bite on the arm, Everman police officer Elizabeth Charles said.

The incident occurred during the third quarter of Everman's football game against Alvarado and drew officers from Forest Hill and Fort Worth, responding to pleas for help on police radios.

"It was pretty much a nightmare," Charles said. "There were a lot of kids there, a lot of people there to enjoy the game. They shouldn't have to fear for their safety from some morons."

Everman High School's principal asked the two officers to remove a young man and woman from the stadium for smoking near the concession stands, Charles said. Tobacco is prohibited on school campuses.

They "refused to comply," Charles said. "The male became verbally abusive and combative. They ended up in a fight. While trying to subdue this guy, there ended up with 100 to 150 people in the mess."

She said the officers were kicked in the groin and punched in the head by some in the crowd, but she didn't know how many in the crowd knew that officers were involved.

The 25-year-old man was arrested for assaulting a peace officer. No one else was arrested.

"Over something stupid," Charles said. "If they'd put the cigarette out or left the stadium, there would have been no problem."

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