Florida Sheriff's Sergeant Arrested After Allegedly Punching Ref During Kids Soccer Game

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“We never relish arresting an employee of this agency. However, our collective belief in transparency, openness and accountability outweighs any personal allegiance,” Waters said. “We are a society of laws, and no one is above those laws.”

Waters said that, according to their investigation, Russell was at a youth soccer game Sunday morning in plain clothes and off duty. When a fight broke out between some of the players, the referees attempted to break it up and were blowing their whistles repeatedly, Waters said.

Russell then went onto the field and punched one of the refs in the face, knocking the whistle out of his mouth, Waters said.

“It’s really confusing to me,” Waters said when asked why Russell might have punched the referee. “It’s disappointing.”

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