Jason Ratterree, the park superintendent at Field Day Park in Clover, turned himself in Thursday after deputies said he stole more than $60,000 in cash paid to the park over several years. Investigators allege the missing money came from cash field and pavilion rentals, pickleball classes and sponsorships that were never formally documented.
Ratterree was booked into the York County Detention Center and charged with embezzlement exceeding $10,000, according to WCCB Charlotte. The station reports he is awaiting bond, and that investigators are still combing through park records and cash-receipt transactions to see how deep the alleged scheme goes.
How the investigation unfolded
The York County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that deputies were first asked to look into "financial irregularities" at Field Day Park on March 20, and that the arrest warrant alleges the scheme ran from October 2020 through March 2026. The office has asked anyone who paid cash to the park for field or pavilion rentals, sponsorships, pickleball classes or as a food truck vendor during that period to contact detectives.
Field Day Park's role in the community
Field Day Park at Lake Wylie is a county-run, multi-field complex that opened in late 2020 and hosts tournaments, leagues and community rentals, according to the park's page on York County's website. The county lists the park's amenities and reservation options and notes that the facility remains open while the investigation continues.
Alleged personal spending
The arrest warrant alleges Ratterree diverted more than $60,000 in cash for personal use, including vacations, home-improvement purchases and private school tuition, according to WCCB Charlotte. Deputies say no other park or county employees have been identified as suspects.
What happens next
Ratterree remains booked at the York County Detention Center as the investigation continues and prosecutors decide whether to file formal charges, the sheriff's release says. Anyone with information or who believes they paid qualifying cash to Field Day Park between October 2020 and March 2026 is urged to reach out to investigators as outlined in the sheriff's notice.
Legal context
Embezzlement of public funds of $10,000 or more is a felony under South Carolina law and can carry significant prison time and fines, per the state code in SC Code § 16-13-210. The statute notes that embezzlement of $10,000 or more may result in felony charges and penalties that include imprisonment, and Ratterree is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
