A South Carolina courtroom has become the stage for a case that began with a high‑school baseball game and escalated into a national news story. On March 25, a confrontation at Pee Dee Academy between a Lee Academy player and a Marion County deputy turned violent, drawing widespread attention online.
The Confrontation at Pee Dee Academy
During a game between Pee Dee Academy and Lee Academy, Deputy George Page, a school resource officer, attempted to place the teenage player in a headlock after the youth stepped on the deputy’s foot with his cleats. The situation quickly deteriorated, prompting Page to deploy a Taser, which led to a third‑degree assault and battery charge against the minor.
Legal Repercussions
Austin Bowers, a 24‑year‑old from Camden, was arrested on a public disorderly conduct charge related to the incident. A jury cleared him in less than four minutes, while Deputy Page remains charged with assault and battery and is currently awaiting case review. Kathryn Atkinson, 44, of Lee County, was also taken into custody for interfering with the deputy’s arrest attempt and faces a breach of peace charge.
Bryan Brockington, who recorded the encounter, identified Bowers as the player’s brother, though authorities have not confirmed that relationship. The teen, charged as a minor through the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, now awaits further legal proceedings. Both Page and Atkinson’s cases are being handled by the 12th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
National Spotlight
The viral video attracted coverage from outlets such as Sports Illustrated and the New York Post, turning a local altercation into a broader conversation about the use of force by school resource officers. Following his arrest in May, Deputy Page was reassigned to administrative duties while his case proceeds.