A pickleball match in St. Augustine, Florida, escalated to violence, resulting in a man with head injuries and a mother facing legal consequences. According to police, the woman struck the man repeatedly with her pickleball paddle during an altercation.
Michele Bannister, 47, has been charged with a felony, as reported by News 4 JAX. She claims to have acted in self-defense during a dispute. However, both witnesses and the victim stated that her son was not in any danger at the time.
The incident occurred on May 31 over a minor argument about who should retrieve a ball. This disagreement quickly spiraled into physical violence with a man suffering multiple facial lacerations from the paddle.
The victim alleged that he commented on Bannister’s son’s play, which led to her intervention. Deputies reported that she struck the man in the head several times with her paddle, resulting in heavy bleeding.
Bannister, reportedly an orthopedic nurse, faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Additionally, she is charged with providing false identification to law enforcement, as she misrepresented her name twice.
The situation drew the attention of Pam Hatch, the North Florida Ambassador for USA Pickleball, known as Pickleball Pam. She witnessed the aftermath and commented on the intensity of the encounter.
She likely struck him six times with the paddle. She had to be pulled away as she was visibly upset, clearly provoked by something,said Pickleball Pam to Action News JAX.
Hatch described a scene with significant blood loss, assisting the victim with cleaning up the injuries.
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