Mets Fan Arrested

[Senators2005]

How typical of Mets fans...what a bunch of morons.   

Officials say fan tried to blind Braves players at Shea
Associated Press
LINK: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2845029


NEW YORK -- A 40-year-old man arrested at Shea Stadium on Friday night is accused of trying to distract an Atlanta Braves pitcher and shortstop with a high-powered flashlight.

Frank Martinez was charged with interference with a professional sporting event and second-degree reckless endangerment, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Saturday.

Authorities said Martinez flashed the powerful light at the players in the bottom of the eighth inning from his seat behind home plate. He was quickly ejected from the game.

"The defendant's alleged actions recklessly endangered the lives of players and spectators and caused a temporary delay to the game," Brown said.

The hullabaloo began at about 10:15 p.m. as the Braves were leading the Mets 7-0. Tim Hudson was on the mound facing Mets pinch-hitter Endy Chavez when, investigators said, Martinez turned the beam on the Braves pitcher and shortstop Edgar Renteria.

Renteria complained to umpire Paul Emmel, who then called time out and alerted security. The security officers removed Martinez and found a "a small, streamline flashlight" in his backpack, Brown said.

"You endanger some of the players out there. Somebody could get blinded. The ball's in play and the light's in their eyes, it's dangerous," Hudson said Saturday after Atlanta's 7-2 loss to the Mets.

Martinez was still jailed Saturday, and unavailable for comment. He was scheduled to remain behind bars until at least the evening, when he had an arraignment scheduled in Queens Criminal Court. Queens prosecutors said Martinez did not have a lawyer yet. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

A law making it expressly illegal to interfere with a professional sporting event was passed by the city in 2003 following a disruptive incident involving fashion designer Calvin Klein.

Klein stepped onto the basketball court at Madison Square Garden in March 2003 to speak with player Latrell Sprewell while a Knicks game was in progress.

The Braves won Friday's game 7-3.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

This is so hilariously typical and completely justifies what I have said all along: Mutt fans = Worst MLB Fans in the World.

[iluvryanzimmerman]

LMAO

[natsfan1a]

Serves him right -- putz.

---

Mets fan gets jail time, 3-year Shea ban over flashlight incident

NEW YORK (AP) — Frank Martinez has watched his last New York Mets game in Shea Stadium.

The 40-year-old Mets fan pleaded guilty Tuesday to shining a high-powered flashlight at a pair of Atlanta Braves players during an April 20 game at the Queens ballpark. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail — and banned from any Mets' home games for three years.

By the time Martinez can return, the Mets will be playing in a new stadium currently under construction behind Shea. The new CitiField was expected to open in 2009 without Martinez, who pleaded to a charge of interfering with a professional sporting event.

Martinez cannot watch the Mets in person at a home game until 2010.

"In a game in which the ball can travel upward of 110 mph, the defendant's actions were dangerous to both spectators and players," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement.

Authorities say that on the evening of April 20, while seated behind home plate, Martinez turned the beam on Braves pitcher Tim Hudson and shortstop Edgar Renteria. The Braves were leading 7-0 at the time.

Renteria complained to umpire Paul Emmel, who called time out and alerted security. The security officers removed Martinez and found the flashlight in his backpack, authorities said.

[Senators2005]

excellant ...glad he's banned from Shea, I hope they share information with other clubs and ban him from all sports venues so the jackass doesn't end up down here.

[natsfan1a]

Good point!

excellant ...glad he's banned from Shea, I hope they share information with other clubs and ban him from all sports venues so the jackass doesn't end up down here.