Covington cop who arrested football refs demoted



COVINGTON, La. (AP) — Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz says a lieutenant who arrested two high-school football referees in October has been suspended without pay and demoted to sergeant.
Lentz says Stephen Short must also pass an evaluation before he can return to work after the 10-day suspension, and cannot apply for promotion for 18 months.
Short has 15 days to appeal to the Civil Service Board. The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/19y7PVQ ) that his attorney, Michael Fawer, was not immediately available for comment Monday.
Short arrested the referees on a charge of public intimidation after they asked him to help move fans away from the field during the third quarter of a game between St. Paul's and Mandeville high schools. Prosecutors refused to press charges.