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A high school football game ended in chaos after police used pepper spray in an effort to calm verbal and physical altercations.
The Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School football team in St. Louis traveled nearly 500 miles to Massillon, Ohio, and the trip turned into a nightmare.
Cardinal Ritter fell to Massillon High School 28-14 in what was said to be a physical and hectic game all night.
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Police used pepper spray on a St. Louis high school football team to calm altercations with opponents. (Dylan Kelley/@dpk.captures)
Tensions flared during the post-game handshake, where several players had to be separated, leading to the use of pepper spray.
Police said the officers involved “operated within our policies and procedures.”
“Our task was to ensure the safety of all those entering the stadium, including fans, students and athletes alike. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the game brought with it multiple physical altercations on the field between both teams,” police said in a statement.
The statement then explained why the pepper spray was used.
“Team staff members, coaches and Massillon police officers were forced to intervene and separate the players during the post-game ‘handshake.’ Officers gave legal orders on multiple occasions for Cardinal Ritter players to leave the field and go to their locker room,” the statement continued.
One player needed to get water in his eyes after being sprayed with pepper spray. (Dylan Kelley/@dpk.captures)
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“The verbal commands were an attempt to reduce the pushing and shoving that was occurring. Those commands were ignored. At one point during the incident, a Massillon player’s mask was grabbed; he was surrounded and then chased by Cardinal Ritter players. The officials once again ordered the visiting team off the field. All of this was happening while the Massillon marching band and cheerleaders were now on the field for the school’s alma mater’s postgame ceremony. This factor worried the officials, as they continued to order Ritter’s players off the field.
“The Ritter players again charged at the Massillon players who were now near the sideline. This was an unfortunate and difficult situation for the officers who, throughout the incident, attempted to restore order. In the end, two Massillon police officers used pepper spray, which was effective. We have thoroughly reviewed this incident and found that they operated within our policies and procedures for use of force action taken”.
Cardinal Ritter officials told Fox 8 in Cleveland that they reached out to the Ohio High School Athletic Association to see what steps they could take.
The game had been intense at all times and went beyond the stopwatch, reaching zero. (Dylan Kelley/@dpk.captures)
“We are aware of the incident that occurred at the Massillon, OH, football game last week, and were very concerned by a video of what happened,” Cardinal Ritter President Tamiko Armstead said in a statement.
Current Detroit Lions catcher Jameson Williams assisted Cardinal Ritter. Paul Brown, co-founder of the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, attended Massillon.
