Mets fan charged of trying to distract Atlanta players during game - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 04-21-2007, 10:19 PM

April 21, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- 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.

Gee, I guess heckling is a lost art.

How did this guy get a flashlight like this into the ballpark? Remember right after 9/11 how precise and thorough stadium security was?? Last time I was at Jacobs Field I had to empty my pockets AND purse. IDIOTS.

Ireneparalegal · 04-21-2007, 10:50 PM

I was thinking the same thing. How was he able to get that flashlight in the stadium?

theshark8777 · 04-21-2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Last time I was at Jacobs Field I had to empty my pockets AND purse. IDIOTS.

I was in Jacobs Field opening weekend, and wasn't searched hardly at all. It would have been easy to get something in.

vashti1999 · 04-23-2007, 11:41 AM

I was at that game. They did search my backpack, the main part but not the smaller front section, and they didn't make me empty my pockets. Pretty silly for that guy to do it in any situation, but especially when we (the Mets) were already down 7 - 0 at the time.

I snapped a pic of the team lined up during the Jackie Robinson pregame ceremony.

TJL · 04-23-2007, 11:49 AM

That is a perfect example of a guy who just doesn't get it.

catlover79 · 04-23-2007, 12:45 PM

Gee, this country is awfully complacent now when it comes to security. Just ask the folks at Virginia Tech and NASA.

04-21-2007, 10:19 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Mets fan charged of trying to distract Atlanta players during game April 21, 2007 NEW YORK (AP) -- 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. Gee, I guess heckling is a lost art. How did this guy get a flashlight like this into the ballpark? Remember right after 9/11 how precise and thorough stadium security was?? Last time I was at Jacobs Field I had to empty my pockets AND purse. IDIOTS.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-21-2007, 10:50 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I was thinking the same thing. How was he able to get that flashlight in the stadium?
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

04-23-2007, 11:41 AM	#4
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	I was at that game. They did search my backpack, the main part but not the smaller front section, and they didn't make me empty my pockets. Pretty silly for that guy to do it in any situation, but especially when we (the Mets) were already down 7 - 0 at the time. I snapped a pic of the team lined up during the Jackie Robinson pregame ceremony. Attached Images
	__________________ .

04-23-2007, 11:49 AM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	That is a perfect example of a guy who just doesn't get it.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

04-23-2007, 12:45 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Gee, this country is awfully complacent now when it comes to security. Just ask the folks at Virginia Tech and NASA.