By Jeremy Wilson
A 19-year-old student was Tasered by a police officer after running onto the field of play and performing a backflip during a Major League Baseball game in Cincinnati.
The supporter, who appeared in court on Wednesday and was named by the Cincinnati Enquirer as William Bentley, burst onto the Great American Ball Park during the match between the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Guardians.
Tyler Freeman, a player for the Guardians, ignored what appeared to be the offer of a fist-bump before Bentley moved away, performed a back somersault, and then sprinted clear of a police officer, whose hat fell off during the chaos.
The police officer quickly deployed his Taser gun into Bentley’s back, causing him to instantly collapse face down on the grass. He was taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center, where he was booked at 10.51pm on Tuesday and held overnight.
He then appeared in court on Wednesday, still wearing his red Cincinnati shirt, facing two charges of criminal trespassing and obstructing official business. Bentley pleaded not guilty and has been banned from Great American Ball Park while enquiries are ongoing.
“Everybody thinks you landed that backflip,” said municipal court Judge William Mallory, according to a report from the hearing at the Hamilton County Municipal Court.
The fan was Tasered after running onto the pitch and executing a backflip.Credit: Getty Images
“I’m pretty sure I did,” replied Hendon. The judge reduced Hendon’s criminal trespassing count to a misdemeanour, at the behest of prosecutors.
Hendon “did knowingly run onto the Reds playing field during the game without permission to do so,” an officer wrote. Another court document said that Hendon had impeded a public official’s lawful duties and “did with purpose to delay his arrest run from police”.
Hendon, who attends Ohio State University and pleaded not guilty, had been held overnight without bond according to the jail docket. He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on July 3.
Telegraph, UK
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