Police seek worker accused in PNC Park fight

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police are trying to find a temporary worker who allegedly assaulted another worker in an early-morning fight at PNC Park.

Authorities said the fight occurred about 1 a.m. Wednesday in a rest room at the ballpark. The fight happened hours after the Pittsburgh Pirates lost 5-2 to the San Diego Padres to fall out of first place in the National League Central Division Tuesday night.

The workers don’t work for the Pirates, but were part of an overnight maintenance crew hired through a temporary staffing company, officials said.

According to investigators, the suspect confronted the man and told him he didn’t like what he said about him.

Police told Channel 11’s Dave Bondy that the accused dumped a bucket of Gatorade over the victim’s head, then pushed him to the ground. The suspect then ran from the scene.

The alleged victim was taken from the ballpark in an ambulance. Hospital officials said he was treated for a broken leg. The man’s name has not been released.

Pittsburgh Pirates spokesperson Brian Warecki released the following statement: “Very early this morning, two temporary, subcontracted, non-Pirates employees working to clean the ballpark overnight got into a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation in a restroom at PNC Park.  During this altercation, one male sustained a broken leg.  That person was taken to the hospital via ambulance for treatment.  The other male in the altercation fled the scene and is currently being sought by the police.  Due to this incident being an ongoing police matter, we cannot discuss further details at this time.”

The victim’s former landlord, Rashidi Kabogota, was disappointed to hear what happened.

“I’m telling you, he didn’t bother anyone. He was a very nice guy,” Kabogota said.

Police said some of the temporary employees are working their first jobs after being released from jail or prison.

WPXI