Brandford, Florida: A youth football coach from Gilchrist County was arrested following an altercation at a practice session in Branford, Florida. The incident, which took place during preparations for a local youth football game, has sparked controversy among parents and community members, some of whom claim the arrest was unjustified.
Heated Argument Leads to Arrest
The altercation occurred around 3 p.m. on Saturday at Branford High School, where two teams from the Gilchrist-Suwannee Valley League were preparing for a match. Witnesses reported that tensions escalated between an assistant coach for the Gilchrist Lightning team and a Branford fan. The verbal confrontation quickly drew attention from others present, including the head coach of Gilchrist Lightning, Francis Kealey.
During the argument, an off-duty Suwannee County deputy intervened, resulting in the arrest of Coach Kealey. Kealey was charged with criminal trespassing and resisting arrest, while neither the assistant coach nor the Branford fan involved in the argument faced charges. Parents who were at the scene expressed shock over the arrest, sharing their accounts of the incident on social media. Videos of the arrest circulated online, further fueling outrage from those who believe Kealey was wrongfully detained.
Allegations of Excessive Force and Lack of Identification
Several parents who witnessed the event described the arrest as excessively forceful. According to Mikki Rain, a parent who attended the practice, the off-duty deputy physically subdued Kealey in a manner that some found alarming. “This big guy comes up and picks up our coach and body slams him,” Rain said. “He slammed him into the ground so hard that I could feel it in the ground.” Other parents, like Breann Downing, criticized the officer for allegedly failing to identify himself before taking action. Downing recounted how Kealey repeatedly asked the deputy to reveal his identity during the arrest. “He kept asking, ‘Who are you? Who are you?’ He goes, ‘You have not identified yourself. I don’t know who you are,’” Downing said. Parents expressed frustration over what they viewed as a lack of transparency from the arresting officer.
Community Response and Calls for Accountability
The arrest has sparked widespread discussion in the local community, with many parents questioning the actions of the off-duty deputy and the decision to charge Coach Kealey. Concerned parents took to Facebook to share their thoughts, with some calling for an investigation into the conduct of the officer involved. The Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office and the Commissioner of the Gilchrist-Suwannee Valley League have so far declined to comment on the incident, leaving many questions unanswered. As the videos of the arrest continue to circulate, calls for more information and accountability grow louder.
While the specifics of what led to the arrest remain unclear, the incident has shed light on concerns regarding the handling of such disputes, especially in a youth sports environment where tensions can sometimes run high. As the community awaits further details, many are left wondering whether this situation could have been resolved differently, without the need for an arrest and the use of force.
or a specific category with our 
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.