Connecting moms in Polk County, Fla.
Coach With Criminal Record
I recently found out that there is a coach from the Lakeland City Baseball organization who is coaching a junior league <edited by Moderator, Shawn Arnold> with a criminal background. His background starts from the early 1990's with cruelty to animals and continues with driving without a license habitual offender,lying to a leo, violation of probation,domestic violence charges with violation charges because he violated the domestic violence injunction. I thought that Lakeland City Baseball had a better organization than that,but I'm beginning to wonder. I was even told this wasn't the first inccedent of an abusive coach/dad that LCB had out there on the fields. What kind of role models are they giving our kids to look up to? If I was a parent on that team or even played in that league I would have a serious issue playing against a felon. God only knows how he would react if the game got really intense and one of the kids did something that made him mad. Besides if I was that sponsor of that team I dont think I'd want to be associated with that seeing as thats not what all the other sponsors for the league is about nor was the league when it first started, and I'm sure again the parents wouldnt want to be associated with that type of person either. Thank you for taking your time to read this. Signed a very concerned parent. Sierra
Views: 1431
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ashley Butler on -
With all do respect........Just wondering, and not tying to step on anyones toes, because I am very protective of my child and family also, but I do have to ask; Do you know both sides of the story? We are so easy to judge, and step on someone when they have made mistakes. There are so many times when society takes their own assumptions and opinions and beat someone up with them, that is a good person. I also know people that have had a rough life, and decided to become a better person, turn their life around, and become someone respected teachng others not to make the same mistakes. I do not know this person you are talking about, but I was just reading this, and thought this was something to add. I know that there is alot of hurt and wrong in this world, but I do also know there is still good as well. There just might be more to it, is all I am saying. God only knows is right, God only knows our hearts. I hope you take that into account. Thanks :)
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Permalink Reply by Sierra Bell on -
Not sure what happened to my last reply to you,but I feel that if you can reply to my post I have a right to answer your post back and let you know without being rude, that I do know the whole situation and thats the reason why I posted what I did about the coach. I feel that the parents of that organization have the right to know what type of people we have coaching our youth. I mean afterall those organizations are supposed to be doing background checks on all volunteers involved so instances like this or even worse cases dont get unnoticed like pedaphiles. like I had mentioned in my last reply, I do know about this situation personally, cant exactly say how but, I do know that this coach has not changed one bit and should not be permitted to coach volunerable young men.
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Permalink Reply by Lady Lu Lu on
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My husband and I coached for LCB and we both had background checks done on us. They were also very particular about keeping parents without badges (that showed they had a background check done) off the field, so I find this very surprising. The head guy even walked around the first few practices to make sure himself that everyone had badges. How did you find this out? I would speak to one of the main guys or the lady that runs the team moms/fundraisers about it. Sorry, I can't think of their titles. They were always at the fields on game days and wore a badge but not a team shirt. If anything, someone at the concession stand can direct you to them.
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Permalink Reply by Christine keith on
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@ Sierra - Bravo to you! I have made 2 complaints to board members of LCB regarding this <> behavior and he's still out there. He got totally wasted at our end of the year party in front of the whole team. At that wretched event, he put boys in headlocks and smacked his own son to the point that he was outside crying. This "man" thinks he's one of the boys & continually roughhouses with them. All completely inappropriate behavior for a coach who is supposed to be molding young men. I called a board member & said if my son wound up on his team this spring that I would forfeit the money and pull him out of LCB. Luckily, my son was drafted by another coach. However, that did not stop this <> from tackling & whip creaming my son from head to toe on opening day. My son had not yet had his picture taken so I gave him my team mom shirt to wear for pictures. His apology to my son included, "I didn't know that you didn't have pictures yet". Like that matters! <>
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Permalink Reply by Sierra Bell on
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@Lady Lu Lu, yeah I found it hard to believe to that they allowed him to be apart of the organization specially as a manager/coach when he has a background and they are very well aware of it. It was brought to a few of the board members attention last fall ball. Guess they just dont care any more because if they did this wouldnt be happening.
Lady Lu Lu said:My husband and I coached for LCB and we both had background checks done on us. They were also very particular about keeping parents without badges (that showed they had a background check done) off the field, so I find this very surprising. The head guy even walked around the first few practices to make sure himself that everyone had badges. How did you find this out? I would speak to one of the main guys or the lady that runs the team moms/fundraisers about it. Sorry, I can't think of their titles. They were always at the fields on game days and wore a badge but not a team shirt. If anything, someone at the concession stand can direct you to them.
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Permalink Reply by Sierra Bell on
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I just felt something needed to be said because I'm sure theres parents out there on that team and that play against that team that would rather not have their children aroumd a person who has a criminal background that consists of domestic violence, habitual offender of driving without a license knowingly, lying to a leo, vop of a restraining order, charges for non child support, yeah some of it maybe petty but the domestic violence and cruelty to animals thats major and God forbid that anger turn on the kids. Anf from the person your describing, it sounds as if we might be talking about the same person. Because those are the types of things the person I'm talking about would do.
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Permalink Reply by Sierra Bell on
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@ Kimpsbl1 thanks will try that ;)
kimpsbl1 said:http://www.lakelandgov.net/parkrec/WhoWeAre.aspx
City of Lakeland
Parks & Recreation
228 S Massachusetts Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801(863) 834-6035
Divisions
Director
Bob Donahey
Assistant Director
Pam PageParks
Recreation
Mindi FitchLibraries
Lisa LilyquistCleveland Heights
Brock WitmyerCemeteries
Tom Wheatley
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Spivey on -
I see that we are getting some new members that are joining us in this discussion. First I would like to say welcome to PolkMoms.com. This is a great venue to chat parenting related topics and I think this is a topic that can be discussed in a general and informative way.
I would ask those just joining us to please go over this link, Rules Refresher and Tips When Using PolkMoms.com
Individuals or names should not be singled out in what could be considered a negative light. Bashing of other PolkMoms members is an offense as well. Some information in this thread was removed that could positively identify an individual. I would recommend generalization while making points in this discussion.
Name calling and profanity is a PolkMoms.com violation and will be removed. Suspension could result from repeated violation. If anyone has any further questions please feel free to address them at shawn.arnold@polkmoms.com
This topic made me consider some valid points.
Knowing those that work with children in organized sports go through background screenings is comforting to a parent’s mind and soul.
For some of you, it sounds like you're concerned and curious: how much criminal activity is enough to keep an adult away from a mentoring position?
Would any members like to give their thoughts on how many and what types of criminal offenses are forgivable when volunteering with children?
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Permalink Reply by D Springman on
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You know any of the parents can get the entire names of the coaches and do a check for themselves. Go to www.polksheriff.Org. See for yourself who is coaching your child. I think your child deserves a little research on your part, don't you?
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Permalink Reply by Kathryn Rushing on
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Ok, I understand concern with this post, but don't understand why the talking is happening about the person that the post is about personally! conversation that is hurtful, slandering, and there is cursing involved. There is also a conversation about a child being hurt and do not like the impression that is being given! If you have a personal conflict with someone you should be able to discuss it with them in person and not post an article that is not completely true!
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Spivey on
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Remarks that could identify the coach discussed were removed from this discussion and this subject should move forward as a broad topic not as a place to discuss and identify one coach in particular.
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Permalink Reply by Christine keith on
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I do not like that the above mentioned events happened either but make no mistake, they are true. There has been nothing slanderous said. Everything mentioned above by me was reported to league officials months ago and there are multiple witnesses to all events. As far as his criminal history, I'm sure it's a matter of public record. I do apologize for some of the words I used but you cannot imagine how frustrating it is to watch the ongoing antics of this person and nothing gets done about it. The entire point of this conversation is, like it or not, that there are leagues and people that the public entrusts their children with and these people should be held to high standards. We are upset that we are told that all volunteers @ LCB are subject to a back round check, so our kids are safe, however it appears that even when things are on the history, people get cleared to volunteer. No one's intention here is to personally attack any individual but make it known publicly that there are volunteers with criminal back rounds on the field and that even if a "second chance" attitude was taken during the decision to allow him to coach, it was probably a bad decision because his current behavior is appalling at times.
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