Little League Board Member Steps up to the Platein Protection of Field of Dreams

A Grand Terrace man was left injured after he confronted several juveniles allegedly damaging a score booth at Pico Park, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials. The victim, Mike O'Neal of Grand Terrace, sustained bruising to his left ribs and shoulder, as well as damage to his left ear, requiring six stitches, after being struck in the ribs and the head with a skateboard following an altercation that broke out after O'Neal confronted the group, O'Neal said. O'Neal, a Grand Terrace Little League board member who provides field and other maintenance for the league, said last Wednesday, April 8, he was preparing the snack bar and fields with another board member, April Bond, for the league's upcoming opening ceremonies at Pico Park, where they regularly hosts practices and games. After he left the field to pick up his grandson from school, O'Neal said he received a call from Bond saying she was witnessing five teenagers vandalizing the score booth, a platform surrounded by a wooden picket fence, at the field. O'Neal said he immediately returned to the field. "I called the cops and was on the phone with them when Mike showed up and just drove straight down to the lower field," said Bond. "When I got there I asked why they were destroying the score booth and they denied doing it," said O'Neal. "I told them witnesses saw them. They heard the cracking of the boards." O'Neal said when he told the group they were under citizen's arrest and San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies were on their way, an altercation began. "All five of them jumped up. I put my hand up and the one closest to me ran into my hand and tripped over the bleachers. Two immediately ran after that," said O'Neal. According to O'Neal, one of the other teenagers threw a skateboard to the juvenile who had tripped, which he used to strike O'Neal. At this point, O'Neal said, he grabbed the teenager by the throat and pushed him against a backstop, which O'Neal said was in self-defense to keep the teenager from striking him again. "At that point his friends started yelling that I was choking (the teenager), so I let him go," said O'Neal. This portion of the confrontation was allegedly caught on video by the group of teenagers and posted onto Youtube, but has since been removed from the video uploading and sharing site. Bond said, "I could see dust flying and I could tell someone was fighting. I couldn't see Mike anymore, so I was worried about him." It was after O'Neal released the teenager from up against the backstop that the three juveniles, two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old, fled the scene, according to O'Neal. Sheriff's reports indicate that the three were later located and arrested by deputies, and all three were released to their parents. Bond, who had her 3-year-old daughter with her at the time, did not return to the lower field until after deputies arrived. She said she saw damage to the score booth's platform and picket fence, which she described as being shattered, alongside damage to surveillance cameras in the area. There was also conversation on the Facebook group 92313 following the incident. Many people know this community servant and rallied around O'Neal as others outside of the community attempted to bash the well-known citizen. O'Neal said he will be pressing charges against three of the juveniles, for destruction of property, and against one for assault with a deadly weapon. Anyone with information on the incident may contact Dept. Kevin Hogue at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Central Station, 909-387-3545.