Mayor Percy Bland, Meridian Police Officer Eric Johnson and Leroi Gray, of Clinton, were captured on video at a Friday night baseball game in Ridgeland when Johnson and the other man’s argument turned physical.

Bland’s son played on The Shockers, Meridian’s travel team, in a game against The Mayhem, from Clinton at a youth game in a Ridgeland park. Johnson, the Shockers’ assistant coach, and the Mayhem’s assistant coach got into a fight at the stadium after the Mayhem coach had been ejected, according to Bland.

A Ridgeland Police Department news release identified Gray and Johnson as the two men involved in the confrontation.

A copy of the video was sent to The Meridian Star through its Facebook page.

The release states that Gray was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment, saying “the extent of his injuries are unknown at this time.”

The Ridgeland Police Department responded to the incident at the Freedom Ridge Park around 7 p.m. Friday. No charges have been filed against Gray or Johnson, Ridgeland Police said.

“Meridian Mayor Percy Bland (had) no involvement in the disagreement other than attempting to separate the parties,” the news release said. Ridgeland Police will review the video and determine the proper course of action. 

“(Gray) was ejected for making threats on the field to our coaches and parents,” Bland said.

After Gray returned to the game, Bland said Gray “made verbal threats and was cursing at one of the parents.”

The 35-second video starts with the altercation and shows Johnson, in a white t-shirt, putting Gray, in a gray t-shirt, into a headlock before Gray falls. At least four men had to pull Johnson off Gray. 

Johnson, as a Meridian police officer, has a series of policies dictating his behavior on-duty and off-duty. Police Chief Benny Dubose said he would interview Johnson on Tuesday, after the Confederate Memorial Day holiday, and learn more about the incident. 

Both Dubose and the Ridgeland Police Department news release said they needed more information about events preceding the video before they could make a decision on any possible action.

Dubose said he’d learned the park had no security the evening of the youth baseball game. 

“I was a bystander,” Bland said. “What happened was a very unfortunate situation and it never should have happened in front of kids.” 

Bland said he believed, since no charges have been filed, that the two men will settle the issue as private citizens. 

The Shockers won the game 10 to 5, Bland said.