Bloody pickleball match results in mother's arrest after a paddle was allegedly used as a weapon
A pickleball match in St. Augustine, Florida, left a man bleeding from the head and a mother taking a trip to jail. Police say she hit the man several times with her pickleball paddle during an argument. I'd say who knew pickleball was so intense, but we've seen this sort of incident before.
Michele Bannister, 47, is facing a felony, according to News 4 JAX. She reportedly told investigators that she was defending herself during an argument. The arrest report stated that witnesses and the victim said that her son wasn’t in any danger.
The incident took place on May 31 over a disagreement about which one of them should retrieve a ball. Evidently that’s how you get started on a path that ends with a paddle to the head.
VIRGINIA TEEN TRACK RUNNER WHO BASHED OPPONENT'S HEAD WITH BATON CHARGED WITH ASSAULT AND BATTERY
The man said something to Bannister’s son after the match. She then got involved in the argument. According to deputies, she hit the man in the head several times with her pickleball paddle. He was left with several cuts on his face that bled heavily.
The pickleball paddle-wielding mom, who is reportedly an orthopedic nurse, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The arrest report said that she also picked up a charge of giving false ID to law enforcement after giving deputies a false name twice.
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That’s a tough mother-son morning at the pickleball courts. Not as tough of a morning as the guy on the receiving end of the pickleball paddle. The North Florida Ambassador for USA Pickleball, Pam Hatch, aka Pickleball Pam, happened to be nearby when the incident took place and got a closeup of the aftermath.
"She probably got in six good whacks with the side of the paddle. She was being torn off of him as well. She was upset. Something really did set her off," said Pickleball Pam, according to Action News JAX.
"There was blood kind of all over the place. I was helping the victim ring out the towel because it was a bloody mess."