Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Seventeen-year-old Phillies fan tasered during game

It's certainly not the first time a "Taser event" has been controversial, but it's the first time police have Tasered a Phillies fan.

In this case, what makes the event contentious is the age of the miscreant. In the 8th inning, with 44,817 fans watching at Citizens Bank Park, a 17-year-old male ran around the outfield in the eighth inning. The Phillies fan was tasered when he refused to surrender to authorities.

Appearing on KYW Radio Tuesday, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsay said that "it was inappropriate for him to be out there on the field. Unless I read something to the contrary, that officer acted appropriately. I support him 100 percent."

Meanwhile, Phillies spokeswoman Bonnie Clark said the following in a statement: "This is the first time that a Taser gun has been used by Philadelphia police to apprehend a field jumper. The Police Department is investigating this matter and the Phillies are discussing with them whether in future situations this is an appropriate use of force under these circumstances. That decision will be made public."

It's expected that the Phllies fan who was tasered will be charged with criminal trespass. The police would not release his name because he was underage. While no confirmation exists that he was truly a Phillies fan, the T-shirt he was wearing seems to indicate that.

Watch an amateur video of the event:

Say it with flowers

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