PALMETTO BAY, Fla. – A teen accused of attacking his baseball teammate with an air horn following baseball practice at a Palmetto Bay park last week appeared in juvenile court Wednesday.
Local 10 News obtained cellphone video Tuesday that shows officers outside of Miami Palmetto High School arresting Jeremy Singer, 16, of Palmetto Bay, and putting him into a police car.
His arrest comes almost a week after family members of his teammate, David Diaz, a 15-year-old junior varsity baseball player, say Singer attacked Diaz after practice at Coral Reef Park after their coaches had gone home.
The victim told Miami-Dade police that he and his teammates were initially disciplined by their head coach, who made them run two extra laps after practice was over because Diaz brought food onto the field at the park, located at 7895 SW 152nd St.
According to the report, Singer became upset after having to run extra laps and told the victim around several of their teammates, “I’m going to whoop your a--.”
Moments later, the victim was sitting on a bench waiting for his ride when he felt a “sudden blow to his head,” at which time he looked up and noticed Singer dropping a blunt object on the ground while calling him a “p----” and asking him to fight, the report stated.
Candida Chesman, Diaz’s grandmother, told Local 10 News that she saw blood gushing from his head before she rushed him to Miami Children’s Hospital where he received six stitches.
On Tuesday, Miami-Dade police officers responded to Miami Palmetto Senior High, where Singer was arrested and transported to a police station in Palmetto Bay for questioning.
While being questioned, Singer told detectives that he threw the air horn at the victim’s feet in an attempt to scare him, but accidentally hit his ear, the report stated.
A spokesperson with Miami-Dade County Public Schools told Local 10 News that Miami-Dade police are handling the incident and school representatives have reached out to the mother and have tried to schedule a meeting.
The district says Singer’s parents have apologized and offered to pay for Diaz’s medical expenses. They said Diaz’s mother deferred Singer’s family to her attorney.
Diaz’s family says they are outraged over what they call “insufficient action” by the school’s athletic staff, mentors and coaches who are supposed to care about their loved one.
“It makes me feel terrible to think that my grandson was so happy to play baseball for that school and that he’s been treated like this,” Chesman told Local 10 News on Tuesday.
Police have confirmed that Singer was transported to a juvenile detention center following his arrest.
On Wednesday, state prosecutors asked to delay court so they can present more evidence for probable cause.
While in court, Singer’s attorney tried to downplay the charges by claiming that the incident amounts to a normal fight among teens, not aggravated battery as charged.
State prosecutors disputed that claim and asked for a delay in the trial since they said Diaz sustained “permanent disfigurement” after being attacked.
The judge reset the case for Thursday, which will allow prosecutors to call witnesses who they say will attest to the severity of the victim’s injuries.
Until then, a judge ruled that Singer would remain in juvenile custody.
Local 10 News stopped by Singer’s home to speak to his parents about the charges, but they were not available for comment.
According to jail records, he is facing one count of aggravated battery with a weapon causing great bodily harm.
It remains unclear why the coaches apparently left before all the children were picked up and whether they will be disciplined.