Man Who Tossed Chair During Basketbrawl Identified
Posted: 6:42 pm EST November 29, 2004
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Police in suburban Detroit say they have identified the man who threw a chair during the Pistons-Pacers basketball brawl on Nov. 19.
Auburn Hills police met with the attorney for Bryant Jackson, 35, of Mundy Township near Flint, reported WDIV-TV in Detroit. Police said Jackson is a Detroit Pistons season ticketholder. Authorities said he hasn't been questioned and isn't in custody.The television station reported that Jackson has a criminal past that includes domestic violence, drug charges and charges of carrying a concealed weapon. The Oakland County prosecutor has said the chair-thrower could be charged with felony assault. The fight happened Nov. 19 after fan hurled a drink at Indiana's Ron Artest, who then charged into the stands. Other Pacers players and fans then joined the melee.WDIV-TV released video last week of the man believed to have tossed the chair. The video showed him allegedly trying to loosen a metal folding chair, and then running up the aisle of The Palace.A separate video police reviewed from a fan who sneaked a camera into the game showed the chair flying through the crowd toward an Indiana Pacer player. The chair hit a fan in the stands and a police officer, the television station reported. Minor injuries were reported."He just picks up the chair, and really nonchalantly as possible, throws the chair over his shoulder, behind him," said Auburn Hills police Lt. James Manning after viewing the first video. "Not aiming the chair. He was just recklessly throwing it."
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Survey: Agree With Punishments? Auburn Hills police met with the attorney for Bryant Jackson, 35, of Mundy Township near Flint, reported WDIV-TV in Detroit. Police said Jackson is a Detroit Pistons season ticketholder. Authorities said he hasn't been questioned and isn't in custody.The television station reported that Jackson has a criminal past that includes domestic violence, drug charges and charges of carrying a concealed weapon. The Oakland County prosecutor has said the chair-thrower could be charged with felony assault. The fight happened Nov. 19 after fan hurled a drink at Indiana's Ron Artest, who then charged into the stands. Other Pacers players and fans then joined the melee.WDIV-TV released video last week of the man believed to have tossed the chair. The video showed him allegedly trying to loosen a metal folding chair, and then running up the aisle of The Palace.A separate video police reviewed from a fan who sneaked a camera into the game showed the chair flying through the crowd toward an Indiana Pacer player. The chair hit a fan in the stands and a police officer, the television station reported. Minor injuries were reported."He just picks up the chair, and really nonchalantly as possible, throws the chair over his shoulder, behind him," said Auburn Hills police Lt. James Manning after viewing the first video. "Not aiming the chair. He was just recklessly throwing it."
Previous Stories:
- November 27, 2004: Police Scour Stands At Piston's Game For Chair Thrower
- November 24, 2004: Artest: 'I Shouldn't Have Gone Into The Stands'
- November 23, 2004: Chair-Tossing Fan Caught On Video
- November 22, 2004: Two Fans Sue Pacers Over Brawl
- November 22, 2004: No Mercy: Artest Gets Season Suspension For Brawl
- November 20, 2004: 3 Pacers, 1 Piston Indefinitely Suspended For Basketbrawl
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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