STARKVILLE – A deputy with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department has been terminated after a fight broke out at a children’s baseball game in Starkville.
The fight happened at Cornerstore Park between a baseball coach and the umpire.
Oktibbeha County Lieutenant Darrell Holley was identified as the coach allegedly involved in the fight. According to WCBI, Jeff Akins was identified as the umpire.
Video of the incident has been circulating on social media.
Lt. Holley was a coach for Starkville’s 14U Sports Performance Center Select Team, according to multiple sources online.
Starkville police said they were called Sunday to reports of a fight in progress at the park involving the two men.
Lt. Holley and the umpire were both charged with fighting under city ordinance 12.3.05.
The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department released a statement Monday afternoon, saying they officially terminated Lt. Darrell Holley after this incident. His termination was effective May 4th.
Sheriff Shank Phelps, with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department, said their department maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding the conduct involved in this incident.
He stated, “Regardless of the circumstances, the OCSD will not tolerate this type of behavior. A baseball field is supposed to be a place of fun and family; fighting has no place there.”
The department thanked community members who reported the fight and shared information with officers.
In a statement, police said recreational facilities are meant to be safe places that bring the community together and that this type of behavior has no place in city parks.
