Baseball Umpire Assaults Deputy

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 1st 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.