FOPLODGE44
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- Jan 31, 2007
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Man arrested at Shea Stadum for blinding players w/ " a high-intensity flashlight" !
from: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/am-sheafan0422,0,978675.story?coll=ny-top-headlines
NEW YORK -- A high-beam heckler was arrested at Shea Stadium after the Bronx man used a flashlight to temporarily blind two Atlanta Braves players during a game, authorities said Saturday.
With the Braves up 7-0 against the Mets in Friday night's series opener, Frank Martinez, 40, of 614 Beach Ave., tried to turn the rout around from his seat behind home plate, authorities said.
As Braves pitcher Tim Hudson faced Mets pinch hitter Endy Chavez in the eighth inning, Martinez aimed a high-powered beam into Hudson's eyes, as well as those of Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria and second base umpire Paul Emmel, officials said.
Emmel called time out and alerted Shea security, who escorted Martinez from his seat to a stadium security office. It was there, officials said, that a compact flashlight was found in Martinez's backpack.
In a written statement, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown described the light as "a high-intensity flashlight that is more commonly used for tactical and self-defense purposes. . . "
Martinez was charged with interfering with a professional sporting event, a misdemeanor, and second-degree reckless endangerment. He faces up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted. Martinez was in jail and awaiting arraignment last night in Queens Criminal Court in Kew Gardens.
Martinez's brother and sister-in-law said they were surprised to hear about his arrest.
"Is he crazy?" asked Minerva Martinez, 49. "That don't sound right."
The Bronx couple said they haven't heard from Frank Martinez in about a month and that he had recently been laid off or fired from his job as an exterminator and was homeless.
"He spends money on buying tickets rather than buying anything else," said Robert Martinez, 46.
After Friday's game, which the Braves won 7-3, Hudson said he didn't see the light until Renteria pointed it out to him. But then when it shone in his eyes, Hudson said, "It was like a laser."
A spokeswoman for Brown's office said yesterday that Hudson and Renteria had agreed to sign criminal affidavits after yesterday's game.
"We have an obligation to protect our fans and our players as well as the players on the other club," said Mets' vice of president of security Rob Kasdon. "This guy created a dangerous situation, which was brought to our attention. Our staff, along with the NYPD, addressed the situation."
The city ordinance against interfering with a professional sporting event was passed by the City Council in 2003 after designer Calvin Klein walked onto the court during a Knicks game, grabbed a player's arm as he prepared to make an inbounds pass, and mumbled into his ear.
from: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/am-sheafan0422,0,978675.story?coll=ny-top-headlines
NEW YORK -- A high-beam heckler was arrested at Shea Stadium after the Bronx man used a flashlight to temporarily blind two Atlanta Braves players during a game, authorities said Saturday.
With the Braves up 7-0 against the Mets in Friday night's series opener, Frank Martinez, 40, of 614 Beach Ave., tried to turn the rout around from his seat behind home plate, authorities said.
As Braves pitcher Tim Hudson faced Mets pinch hitter Endy Chavez in the eighth inning, Martinez aimed a high-powered beam into Hudson's eyes, as well as those of Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria and second base umpire Paul Emmel, officials said.
Emmel called time out and alerted Shea security, who escorted Martinez from his seat to a stadium security office. It was there, officials said, that a compact flashlight was found in Martinez's backpack.
In a written statement, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown described the light as "a high-intensity flashlight that is more commonly used for tactical and self-defense purposes. . . "
Martinez was charged with interfering with a professional sporting event, a misdemeanor, and second-degree reckless endangerment. He faces up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted. Martinez was in jail and awaiting arraignment last night in Queens Criminal Court in Kew Gardens.
Martinez's brother and sister-in-law said they were surprised to hear about his arrest.
"Is he crazy?" asked Minerva Martinez, 49. "That don't sound right."
The Bronx couple said they haven't heard from Frank Martinez in about a month and that he had recently been laid off or fired from his job as an exterminator and was homeless.
"He spends money on buying tickets rather than buying anything else," said Robert Martinez, 46.
After Friday's game, which the Braves won 7-3, Hudson said he didn't see the light until Renteria pointed it out to him. But then when it shone in his eyes, Hudson said, "It was like a laser."
A spokeswoman for Brown's office said yesterday that Hudson and Renteria had agreed to sign criminal affidavits after yesterday's game.
"We have an obligation to protect our fans and our players as well as the players on the other club," said Mets' vice of president of security Rob Kasdon. "This guy created a dangerous situation, which was brought to our attention. Our staff, along with the NYPD, addressed the situation."
The city ordinance against interfering with a professional sporting event was passed by the City Council in 2003 after designer Calvin Klein walked onto the court during a Knicks game, grabbed a player's arm as he prepared to make an inbounds pass, and mumbled into his ear.
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