Florida Woman Kicked 13-Year-Old in Youth Football Fight, Then Told Deputies 'I'm The One' After Arrest

Florida woman Renee Lambert, 34, allegedly kicked a 13-year-old player on the field after a fight during a youth football game.

She reportedly told deputies, “I’m the one who got hit,” when they took her under arrest for child abuse without great bodily harm and resisting an officer without violence.

She was arrested on May 2 at Brooks Park in Fort Myers, according to a publication.

The altercation reportedly stemmed from a play in a Pop Warner football game between the Southwest Florida Panthers and the Fort Myers Falcons, according to the Lee County's Sheriff's Office. A physical fight broke out between players from both teams, and some coaches and parents also rushed onto the field to intervene. As ABC News reported, at the time of the incident, Lambert had been cheering for the Falcons, her son’s football team.

Bystander footage taken by a high school student showed Lambert apparently kicking a player who was a member of the opposing team, and officials said the child was on the ground at the time. In its written probable cause statement, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office wrote, “A witness reported seeing the adult female kick a juvenile male multiple times.”

At least two patrol officers were working in the park when the fight erupted. Witnesses identified Lambert, and she was approached by deputies near a concession stand. After the altercation, the sheriff’s department released a segment of body cam footage showing what happened during that time frame.

“So are you mad at them for hitting me?” Lambert is heard asking in the video of the altercation. “I’m mad at an adult for attacking a kid,” replied a deputy. When a deputy told Lambert she was being detained, she responded, “No, I’m not. Goodbye.”

According to the probable cause statement, Lambert “pushed and pulled away from deputies, refusing to give her hands as they attempted to handcuff her.”

She continued yelling, “Get your hands off me. I’m the one who got hit,” and directed deputies toward a player wearing No. 9.

Sheriff’s department investigators said they found no evidence that the player hit Lambert with his helmet. However, the player told deputies he'd been kicked in the leg by Lambert. Deputies saw no signs of injury from this alleged kick, and a document signed by the player’s mom indicated a desire to pursue prosecution.

Deputies then took Lambert to the hospital for a medical examination due to her complaint of a headache after her arrest. Because her children were present during the incident, child protective services were contacted. She was later booked at the Lee County Jail and released the next day.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno was quoted by Gulf Coast News as stating it’s “sad” that such violence took place during an event for youth football. “We need to have law and order. We need to protect everyone,” Marceno said. “As sheriff, I’m not going to tolerate it.”

Jose Davila, president of Southwest Florida Panthers Youth Football, told WZVN, “We have zero tolerance for this type of behavior.”

Davila also said, “One bad apple does not define who the Fort Myers Falcons are.”

The Fort Myers Falcons said they had permanently banned Lambert from all events and activities sponsored by the organization. Lambert entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, which included felony cruelty toward a child. Later, Lambert waived her right to appear in person on June 1 for the arraignment hearing.