On Thursday evening, Hoover Police responded to the Spain Park Sports Complex and took a man into custody following a report about a softball umpire being assaulted.
Authorities arrested 26-year-old Michael Tyler Seals after an incident during an adult recreational league softball game led to his ejection. While being removed from the field, Seals allegedly assaulted the 51-year-old umpire. The assault was stopped by a group of witnesses.
Seals was eventually located and arrested during a traffic stop by Hoover Police following the attack. According to a release from HPD, the umpire left the scene with “minor but visible” injuries.
Alabama law provides for enhanced penalties for assaulting a sports official. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office obtained a warrant and arrested Seals on charges of Assault of a Sports Official in the Third Degree.
Seals was being held in the Hoover City Jail and was scheduled to be transferred to the Shelby County Jail on Friday afternoon.
