Umpire arrested for passing out drunk during prep baseball game
Perhaps Daryl Jacobson confused the old baseball saying "three strikes and you're out" with a less cliche motto: "three drinks and you're passed out."
The 49-year-old umpire -- the only known public photo before his booking mug shot is below, from his high school yearbook -- allegedly passed out drunk on the infield and assaulted the responding medical personnel during the first inning of a game between Toloun (Ill.) Stark County High and visiting Monmouth (Ill.) United High.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience I gave everyone on Friday," Jacobson said at a hearing that set his bail for $5,000, according to the Star Courier, his hometown newspaper in Kewanee, Ill. "That definitely was not normal of me."
Let's hope not. Jacobson now faces two felony charges of aggravated battery and a pair of misdemeanor counts of resisting a peace officer, according to WQAD 8 (h/t Deadspin).
As pointed out by the Illinois High School Association's Matt Troha, who reached out to Prep Rally via email, Jacobson was not an accredited IHSA umpire but a last-minute local fill in when one of the scheduled umpires could not make the game.
Jacobson refused treatment from emergency medical technicians and attempted to wrestle away from handcuffs until Stark County Sherrif's Department deputies used a Taser twice to bring him in, the reports said.
Stark County Superintendent Jerry Klooster confirmed to WQAD 8 that the arrest occurred on the field during the game, telling the news station, "at no time was the safety of the players or coaches in jeopardy."
Jacobson, who remained in jail at the time of the report, is ordered not to consume alcohol or visit any establishment that serves alcohol before his May 24 arraignment.
Jacobson also faced felony and misdemeanor drug charges in 1982 and 1983, Stark County State’s Attorney Jim Owens told the Star Courier.
Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
