Deputies: Callahan man was 'egging on' fight between 2 girls

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — A Nassau County man was arrested on charges of child neglect and child abuse after he reportedly told deputies he was coaching a female juvenile during a fight with another female juvenile.

Jack Berrien Lairsey Jr., 56, was arrested on August 18 after a man told investigators that Lairsey was "egging on" the fight, according to a Nassau County Sheriff's Office case report. Lairsey is also accused of hitting a 13-year-old boy.

Investigators said that Lairsey was captured on cell phone video "making statements such as:"

-"Wear her (expletive) out!" 
-"Hit her (redacted)! Every time she hits you, hit her!"
-"Get on her back and choke that (expletive)!"

According to the report, Lairsey could be seen on the video "carrying what appears to be a beer bottle," cussing at the 13-year-old boy and the adult male witness to get back in their car.

The report said Lairsey could be heard on the video saying, "Get in the car or I'll knock the both of you (expletive) out!"

"The video pans away and a loud, audible 'smack' can be heard, followed by everyone in the video gasping," the report details. Then, Lairsey returned his attention to the fight between the two female juveniles.

The report said Lairsey could be heard saying, "Now choke that (expletive) to sleep (redacted)! Choke her till she sleeps!"

When deputies came to interview Lairsey about the incident, he initially said it was just a fight between the two female juveniles "and that was all," according to the report. They confronted Lairsey with details about the incident and he admitted to telling one girl to "tell the other girl to come on over and let's settle it."

Lairsey told deputies "he had no idea why the girls were fighting and assumed the victim and witness were there to 'jump'" one of the girls.

Lairsey was released from jail on August 19. Action News Jax's Samantha Manning tried getting answers from Lairsey. When she knocked on his door, a man who looked just like the man shown in the mugshot answered.

Manning: "I'm Samantha Manning with Action News Jax. I wanted to ask you about the child abuse charges against you."

Man: "I have no idea what you're talking about, honey."

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