A law enforcement officer chases down a fan that ran onto the field before the eighth inning in Philadelphia on Monday. Matt Slocum-AP
Philadelphia Phillies fans, notoriously, will boo anyone and anything. But one fan got a hearty cheer when the Phils took on the St. Louis Cardinals. All he had to do to earn a little love? Get the Taser.
An unnamed 17-year-old decided to jump the fence and pull a sprint across Citizens Bank Field, causing the usual Keystone Cop scene with security and police chasing him down. Until, that is, one of Philadelphia’s finest decide he’d had enough running and just tazed the kid.
As the underage fan went down in a heap, several Phillies placed gloves over their faces and appeared to be stifling laughter at the wild scene.
Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore told The Philadelphia Inquirer police internal affairs will open an investigation to determine if the firing “was proper use of the equipment.”
This is the first time that a Taser gun has been used by Philadelphia police to apprehend a field jumper, Phillies spokeswoman Bonnie Clark said in a statement to the Enquirer. 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.
