Lawsuit filed against Camden County sheriff by umpire accused of choking deputy moved to federal court

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A lawsuit filed by an umpire who was accused of attacking a woman and a deputy in 2023 was moved to federal court on Wednesday.

Neal Sidebottom, of Versailles, was charged in 2023 with first-degree assault and misdemeanor resisting arrest. The case was transferred last year from Camden County to Moniteau County. A judge was assigned to the case in February, but the next hearing is not listed on Casenet.

Sidebottom last month filed a lawsuit against  Camden County Sheriff Chris Edgar and Deputy Cole Downing, alleging they used excessive force and deprived him of his Fourth Amendment rights.

According to previous reporting, deputies were called to Ballparks National on Kissick Way in Macks Creek for a disturbance involving an umpire and a player’s parent. A press release claimed that Sidebottom shoved a woman during an argument and then choked a deputy.