VALPARAISO, Ind. — The head coach of the Valparaiso Beacons softball team has resigned following her arrest last week.
In a brief statement released by Valparaiso's interim director of athletics Lauren Hosmer, the university announced head softball coach Meaggan Pettipiece has resigned her position. Assistant softball coach Laney Jones has been named interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Valparaiso says they will begin a search for a new coach at the end of the season.
According to court records obtained by 13News, shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, an employee at a Walmart located in the 2400 block of Morthland Drive on the south side of Valparaiso called police after they witnessed a shopper take $67.71 worth of merchandise without ringing it up at the self-checkout.
The suspect, later identified as Pettipiece, was then questioned by police. That's when police say they found that Pettipiece was in possession of two ondansetron pills (under the brand name Zofran) in her purse. According to court documents, Pettipiece did not have a valid prescription for the pills and was arrested on possession of a schedule IV controlled substance.
At the same time, court records show that police found three THC vape pens in Pettipiece's possession, as well. Court records say that Pettipiece admitted to officers that she was indeed in possession of ondansetron and THC vapes.
According to online court records, Pettipiece's bond was set at $800, which she paid on April 1.
