PADUCAH, Ky. (KT) – Charges against a Michigan man who knocked a referee unconscious after an AAU basketball tournament 10 days ago have been upgraded to felony assault, according to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department.
Keyon Menifield, 40, of Flint, Michigan, was arrested April 6 for fourth-degree assault of a sports official, a misdemeanor. The new felony charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Menifield and the referee, Kenny Culp, had a disagreement after a high school AAU tournament game. Culp walked away and Menifield punched the referee, and then fled the arena. The suspect was quickly located at a hotel and arrested by McCracken County Sheriff Deputies.
The charge was upgraded to felony assault because the injuries to Culp were more severe than first believed.
After receiving the medical updates the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office began immediately forwarding those facts to the McCracken County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and consulting with them upgrading charges.
Based on the new medical facts, an arrest warrant was secured on Monday. Culp suffered multiple injuries, including a broken collarbone, a crack in his sinus cavity, a concussion and bruising on his face.
Culp, 60, was released after spending nine days at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
Paducah has rallied around the popular referee, staring a GoFundMe page to help pay for Culp’s expenses. They had raised more than half of the $10,000 goal as of Tuesday.
Sheriff’s detectives contacted authorities in Flint, Michigan and requested their assistance in locating and arresting Menifield. On Tuesday morning he reported to the scheduled court appearance on the original charge and was taken into custody without incident on the felony charge with bond set at $15,000.
Menifield has criminal convictions for assault and drug trafficking. The previous assault convictions were not on other sports officials.
