Winter Park Police Release Footage of Dispute Over 3-Year-Old Soccer Player

Winter Park police released body camera footage on Monday showing officers responding to an i9 youth soccer game on Saturday. The incident centered on Nevada Pierre, a 3-year-old player whose advanced skills caused a dispute with the league's athletic director. The footage was made public after a review of the event, which involved a call to 911 by league staff.

The athletic director stated in the video that he called police after Nevada's mother, Martasia Griffin, began livestreaming their interaction. He described her as disruptive and said she was following him around while calling him names in front of other spectators. Griffin, however, said she was standing up for her son after he was set to be benched. She explained that she walked behind the director to ask what would happen to her son's playing time.

The dispute began because Pierre dominated the field, scoring many goals in a league designed for 5-year-olds. The i9 Sports Experience promotes a focus on fun and equal playing time regardless of talent level. The director said he tried to tell Pierre to stop pushing other children and to let them play, but the parents disagreed with the decision to swap him out. Griffin noted that her son trains for three hours a day with his father, which explains his performance relative to the other players.

Griffin told ABC News that other parents yelled at her son to pass the ball and that some told their children to push him. She said Pierre was scared when he saw the police, as if he had done something wrong. The experience damaged his spirit, she claimed, because he did not understand why he was sitting while other children played. She added that at some point, her son's feelings must matter as well.

Officers told the director in the video that the situation was a civil matter and not a criminal one. Because the game took place in a public park, police could not force the family to leave, but they noted the league could end the family's participation. Griffin asked for a refund, and the director agreed to fully refund the money they had paid. The family left the field on their own accord after the officers spoke with them.

In a statement, the i9 sports program said it is aware of the concerns and takes them seriously. The league said it has reached out to the family and begun a review that includes speaking with those involved. The program emphasized that the respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to them. They said they would not speculate or share unverified information while they work to understand the circumstances.

The athletic director did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News. Griffin said the league offered Pierre a chance to join another team for free, but the family declined because it was three hours away. The league's website outlines sportsmanship values that include being a team player and inclusion to ensure everyone is treated equally and fairly.

Police said they could tell the family they could not participate in the program anymore if they did not leave. The officers also told the parents that the league would contact them about the refund within a week or two. The video shows the family walking away from the field after this conversation.