LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The Lakewood Police Department is hoping the public can help investigators learn more about a fight that broke out at a children’s baseball game.
Police said the fight occurred shortly before noon Saturday at Westgate Elementary School. Several injuries were reported, including one seriously.
“Coaches and parents, unhappy with a baseball game involving 7-year-olds and a 13-year-old umpire, took over the field and began assaulting each other,” police said on its Facebook page.
Video shows parents taking to the field, battling one another and throwing punches. The young players stood by, watching the whole thing.
The game was between the Soldiers and the Green Socks.
“The three coaches from the Soldiers were confronting our ump, and our coach went up and was trying to hear what was happening and our coach kind of pulled one of the other coaches away and it all went crazy,” said one spectator who was in the stands at the time.
Both teams compete within the same league and hired an attorney to represent them. That attorney sent FOX31 and Channel 2 an email saying, “I am just in the process of reviewing the available information. I am not in a position to comment about this event at this time.”
“I think the saddest part in all of this is we’re talking about a 7-year-old baseball game,” LPD spokesman John Romero said. “I think it’s the parents who have to grow up.”
Police are looking for any information about the fight. They would especially like to know the name of a man seen on video who is wearing a white shirt and teal shorts.
Police said the man sucker-punched another man and could face assault charges.
Police said five people have been cited for disorderly conduct and fighting in public. There are no reports of any children being injured.
The Bear Creek Junior Sports Association published the following statement on its website:
“BCJSA would like to apologize to our members and community in regards to the events that took place this past weekend. BCJSA has ZERO tolerance for this type of behavior….PERIOD. We are embarrassed (sic), ashamed and angry that this has taken place. As of now, the Jeffco Co-Op has ended the seaon (sic) for both teams involved and all BC coaches and parents identified participating in the incident are being removed indefinitely.”
These adults took over the field and began assaulting each other on 6/15 during a youth baseball game. We're looking for any info, in particular to ID the man in the white shirt/teal shorts. Several people have already been cited in this fight and injuries were reported. pic.twitter.com/ieenhwCrbU
— Lakewood Police (@LakewoodPDCO) June 18, 2019