A pickleball match in St. Augustine, Florida, took a violent turn when a mother allegedly hit a man with her paddle, leaving him with several cuts on his face. The incident occurred on May 31 over a disagreement about retrieving a ball.
Details of the Incident
Michele Bannister, 47, is facing a felony charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. According to the arrest report, witnesses and the victim stated that Bannister’s son was not in any danger during the argument. Bannister, an orthopedic nurse, reportedly told investigators that she was defending herself.
The man involved in the incident said something to Bannister’s son after the match, which led to her involvement in the argument. Deputies stated that she hit the man in the head several times with her pickleball paddle, resulting in heavy bleeding.
Pam Hatch, the North Florida Ambassador for USA Pickleball, witnessed the aftermath of the incident and described the scene as ‘a bloody mess.’ Bannister was also charged with giving false ID to law enforcement after providing a false name twice.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
