A former Marshall University standout and NFL special teams player has been criminally charged after a physical fight with an off-duty sheriff’s deputy at his son’s football practice in Putnam County. Court records show 45-year old Christopher Massey of Winfield has been charged with battery, disorderly conduct, trespassing and obstruction.
The complaint said law enforcement responded to Winfield Middle School where Massey had become “disruptive” after “his son was emotional and crying during practice.” Putnam County Deputy Seth Lewis, who serves as an assistant coach for the team was off-duty, asked Massey to leave the property. The complaint said Massey became irate and was arrested after officers’ commands were ignored. Records said Lewis was able to put Massey in handcuffs “after a brief struggle” in which the deputy chipped his tooth. Our news partners at Eyewitness News said Massey posted bond and a pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 17. Massey graduated from East Bank High School and has been inducted into the Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame. He played professional football for a decade, serving as a long-snapper for the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears.