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Friday Night Fights

By Jeff Terrill

Fort Wayne Reader

2018-09-11

(Editor’s note — this Legal Matters originally ran in FWR #298)

Michael can’t believe he’s in jail. Winning the game is all he wanted to do. How did this happen?

Michael is a tightly wound 18-year-old high school senior. He’s the quarterback and co-captain of his football team. A few college coaches are interested in him. Michael isn’t a real person.

Last year, Michael’s team lost by 30 points at home to Central – one of their biggest rivals. A fight broke out during last year’s game and emotions are still running high.

This year, the game is a lot closer. The teams are tied heading into the last play of the first half. Michael takes the snap, scrambles and gets slammed to the ground by one of Central’s best defensive players. Michael’s helmet flies off his head. Michael looks up and sees the guy celebrating over him.

Michael is pissed. He hates Central. He hates getting sacked. He hates losing. Michael gets up, grabs his helmet and smashes it into the side of the Central player’s helmet and body. A melee ensues.

The officials and coaches from both teams rush in and break up the fight. Several players are ejected from the game, including Michael. Michael’s not happy. He notices a police officer on the field. The officer speaks with Michael’s coaches and then heads over toward Michael.

The police officer informs Michael that he’s under arrest for battery. The Central player’s parents plan to take their son to the hospital to determine the extent of his head injury. The officer explains that Michael could be charged with a felony if the Central player has a concussion. Michael’s parents run to the field from the stands. They try to convince the officer not to arrest their son.

In Indiana, a person who touches another person in a rude, insolent or angry manner commits the crime of battery. If the touching results in visible injury or pain, the crime is a Class A misdemeanor punishable up to one year in jail. If a person causes moderate bodily injury, the offense is a Level 6 felony. A person who batters another person resulting in serious bodily injury commits a Level 5 felony punishable up to 6 years in jail.

The officer allows Michael to take off his shoulder pads before escorting him to his squad car. Several other police officers arrive.

Michael sits in a jail cell while his team loses to Central for the second year in a row. Michael lost his cool. He figured he might get thrown out of the game. He never thought he’d go to jail.