An Osceola County Corrections deputy was arrested at his daughter’s soccer practice Tuesday evening in Lakeland.
- Osceola corrections deputy accused of incident at daughter's soccer game
- Polk deputies: Joseph Hicks was belligerent to players, coaches, parents
- Hicks arrested, charged after grabbing deputy's arm
The incident happened at about 7:30 p.m. at Duff Field at Hunt Fountain Park.
Polk County deputies said Joseph Hicks, 27, was acting belligerently toward players, coaches and parents.
Deputies said Hicks had a strong odor of alcohol and displayed signs of impairment. They asked Hicks to leave the park several times, and his wife urged him to get in their vehicle to leave, deputies said.
As deputies were trying to calm down Hicks, they said he flashed his badge from the Osceola County Department of Corrections.
Hicks also approached the one of the deputies aggressively and grabbed the deputy’s arm, the Polk Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
"Mr. Hicks' behavior was embarrassing. He was publicly drunk, disrespectful of others, including the deputies who were just trying to get him to leave, belligerent, and he ruined what should have been a fun and healthy family experience for others. Mr. Hicks will be trespassed from this park to prevent this from happening in the future," Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Hicks was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting officer without violence.