COVINGTON, La., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A police officer who arrested two referees during an October high school football game has been demoted and suspended, the Covington, La., police chief said.
Stephen Short received a 10-day suspension and demotion from lieutenant to sergeant for failing to use good judgment and for violating several departmental policies in arresting the referees, Chief Tim Lentz said Monday.
The game officials were arrested on public intimidation charges after one asked Short to move fans crowding a sideline of the football field into the stands. An argument ensued and another referee joined the confrontation, delaying the game by 20 minutes, the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported Tuesday.
Days after the incident, Lentz and Covington Mayor Mike Cooper issued an apology to the referees, and the charges were dropped.
