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Man pleads not guilty in fireworks incident during S.F. Giants game

San Bruno man pleads not guilty to charges in fireworks incident during S.F. Giants game
Bay City News- San Jose Mercury News
Posted: 04/21/2014 11:54:05 AM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO – A San Bruno resident who allegedly threw fireworks from the bleachers at a San Francisco Giants game at AT&T Park Wednesday night pleaded not guilty Friday to felony charges, according to prosecutors.

Paola Alessio Pavone, 21, was arraigned today in San Francisco Superior Court today on one charge of felony possession of a destructive device in a public place, one charge of felony possession of combustible material and one misdemeanor charge of discharging dangerous fireworks, according to Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to return to court on April 25 to set a preliminary hearing date.

Pavone was arrested Wednesday after fireworks were thrown into the Coors Light bar area behind the bleacher around 9:30 p.m., during a period between innings, according to police.

Officers at the game heard a loud explosion and saw smoke coming from the area, police spokesman Officer Gordon Shyy said.

Multiple people reported pain, dizziness and temporary loss of hearing, but no one was seriously injured in the explosion, Shyy said. All of the victims were treated at the stadium.

Pavone was arrested after police learned a suspect was seen standing up in Section 142 of the bleachers and throwing something back toward the bar area, Shyy said.

The incident did not delay the game, and the Giants went on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1.

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25608423/san-bruno-man-pleads-not-guilty-charges-fireworks

3 Marines hurt defending woman in fight between Dodgers, Angels fans

3 Marines hurt defending woman in fight between Dodgers, Angels fans
Published April 01, 2014
FoxNews.com

Three Marines were attacked early Sunday morning after police say they defended a woman wearing an Angels jersey arguing with two men in a Dodgers jersey.

Huntington Beach police Lt. Mitch O’Brien says the woman got into a heated argument with two men over baseball even though neither team was playing nearby. The passing Marines reportedly got involved when the conflict escalated and tried to help the woman.

Police say two Marines were stabbed, one of them cut with a broken bottle in front of police. They remain hospitalized, but are expected to survive. The third was treated and released.

The Los Angeles Times reported that one of the Marines was stabbed in the face by a broken beer bottle.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and were being held in the Huntington Beach City Jail, the paper reported.

Neither team was playing nearby at the time.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/01/3-marines-hurt-trying-to-break-up-fight-between-dodgers-angels-fans/

Safely in Their Seats: Suggestions to Improve Fan and Player Safety

By Michael Abramson, 3/18/14
Over the past six weeks college basketball has experienced three episodes of violence involving fans and players. This article provides a description of the most horrific incidents of fan-player violence, discusses the events in this year’s basketball season, and offers suggestions to curb fan-player violence.

One of the scariest circumstances of fan-player violence occurred on April 13, 1993, when a fan came down from the stands and stabbed Monica Seles with a 9-inch boning knife.[1] Eleven years later, on November 19, 2004, Ron Artest leapt into the stands after a fan hurled a beer at him at the end of the Indiana Pacers vs. Detroit Pistons game. Stephen Jackson and other players followed him into the stands and violence broke out in an incident now known as the “Malice in the Palace.”[2] In both of these incidents physical barriers between fans and players did not exist, and security was not present to stop the initial violence.

During the past six weeks of the college basketball season violence has marred a great end to the regular season. On February 8, Oklahoma State Marcus Smart pushed a fan after Smart went into the crowd underneath the basket in the Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech game.[3] On February 27, punches were thrown after fans stormed the court at the end of the Utah Valley vs. New Mexico State game.[4] On March 6, a fan ran onto the court at the UC Santa Barbara-Hawaii game and yelled at the coach and taunted players.[5] In all three of these incidents, physical barriers (or meaningful physical barriers) did not exist between the fans and the court, and security was not present at the junction of the court and the stands.

It is both tragic and unfathomable that violent incidents still occur at sporting events after twenty years have passed since Seles’ stabbing and nine years since the “Malice in the Palace.” The world of sports should have taken actions by now that would eliminate these types of violent acts. The suggestions below, if implemented, will hopefully decrease violence at sporting events and protect fans and players alike:

Physical barrier between fans and players. The best way to prevent fans from committing violence is to prevent them from getting to the playing surface. Architects should investigate different types of barriers. One suggestion would be a tall sheet of plexiglass surrounding the court (similar to those at hockey games). The glass would allow fans to see but protect the players from fans. Another suggestion would be to raise the seats so high above the playing surface that jumping down would be prohibitive. These types of barriers would likely generate criticism, so sports should consider other measures as well.

Move fans away from the court. If one will not create a physical barrier, one should at least move the fans away from the court. Several feet should separate the first row of seats from the playing surface, and sports should eliminate court-side seats. Increased space will prevent fans and players from interacting, and it would also give security extra time to react if a fan leaves the stands and heads for the court.

On a side note, basketball should also remove the camera gallery at the ends of the courts. Players are constantly running into them. Too much of a danger exists for a player or camera person to get injured when a player runs into the camera gallery.

Increased security. Security should be present at every location in which the stairways/aisles of the stands come into contact with the playing surface. Security would then be able to prevent individuals from getting to the playing surface. Additional security should be present at other positions around the playing surface to prevent any fan disturbance.

Eliminate the practice of fans storming the court. Fans rushing the court can trample other fans, [6] accidently trip or step on players causing terrible injuries (such as the one to Joe Kay), [7] or attack opposing players and coaches. Stopping the practice of rushing the court might take away a bit of the excitement from college basketball, but to prevent life-changing injuries or even death, it is worth the trade.

Improved fan and player behavior. Better decorum from fans and players may reduce violent acts at sports. Fan behavior has degenerated to the point where people do not want to come to games because of unruly fans and possibly dangerous situations. It is so bad that, at Falcons games, a special phone line exists to complain about fan conduct. Fans curse, scream, and openly mock opposing players. Fans need to remember that it is just a game, not a war. Sports exist for enjoyment and should return to an atmosphere of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

Players are becoming more violent in their actions with one another. They openly taunt, yell, and mock the opposition. This attitude creates an atmosphere of antagonism and hatred which fans emulate. Competition and hard play should remain, but players must remember that it is only a game.

By now, the world of sports should have developed measures that would have prevented violence at sporting events. The rash of violence during the past six weeks of the basketball season should serve as a long-overdue wake-up call. Sports should adopt some form of the measures above in order to better protect the players, coaches, fans, and arena personnel.

http://icemansports.com/safely-seats-suggestions-improve-fan-player-safety/

Levi’s Stadium To Ban Bugles, Reptiles, And Spilling Anything

Levi’s Stadium, Home Of 49ers And Super Bowl L, To Ban Bugles, Reptiles, And Spilling Anything
By Brandon Mercer March 25, 2014
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF) — Come this fall, there will be plenty of beer and football inside the new Levi’s Stadium, but don’t expect to tap your own keg, toss a football, play a bugle, spill any substance, or bring your pet Gila monster to any San Francisco 49ers games or Super Bowl L.

New preliminary regulations set for approval at tonight’s Santa Clara City Council meeting offer a long list of taboo items and behavior, in what is a preliminary draft for public debate prior to the official adoption of the ordinance before the ”Field of Jeans’” first event August 2nd.

The document lists in typical legalese about eight pages of unapproved items and actions.

Among them are the following rules slated for adoption:

No throwing, launching, or “spilling” of any solid object would be permitted. The ordinance would specifically denote “no footballs, beach balls, and Frisbees,” but the real Draconian policy might be that police could toss you out of the stadium parking lot or the stadium proper for “…causing a substance to be thrown, discharged, launched, spilled, or to become airborn[e].” That includes both solid and liquid objects, so don’t spill your beer, or your nachos.
No guns, not even for off-duty officers. No knives either, but it doesn’t specify whether that’s like the TSA’s “no knives” or a more reasonable “no dangerous knives.”
No explosions. Fireworks, stink bombs, etc. Makes sense, right?
Don’t go beyond the area open to the public. No brainer there.
No bringing cans, bottles, flasks, etc., of alcohol in without authorization. (Parking lots should be okay though).
No trying to get in without a ticket.
“No person shall behave in so disruptive, unsafe, noisy, boisterous or profane manner as to disturb spectators or participants at any stadium event so that assigned personnel must address the person to cease or prevent a recurrence of the disruptive, unsafe, noisy, boisterous or profane behavior.” Meaning don’t do anything that makes the ushers come over and have to talk with you, otherwise they can toss you out.
“No person shall urinate or defecate except in a designated lavatory facility.” Good one!
“No person shall violate any local ordinance or state law.” That’s the nice, broad, “cover your butt” rule.
If they eject you, you have to go, and not try to re-enter, even by buying another ticket.
Inside the stadium, there are no bugles. Also no air horns, “powered” megaphones (so those cheerleader cone things might be okay), no drums, no musical instruments. In the parking lot, bring your banjo if you want.
No bringing your goldfish to the game or even the parking lot. Also, you can’t bring or even try to lure an animal including bird, fish, reptile, into the parking lot or stadium unless it’s a service dog.
Everyone has to obey the “lawful order of law enforcement officers or Stadium security personnel.”
No smoking outside of designated areas (unless you’re a 49er, a rock star, an employee, or someone else who is getting paid to be there).
No taking someone else’s seat without a valid ticket.
No blocking aisles.
In the parking lot, there is no driver training allowed, plus no “volleyball, baseball, soccer, football, roller skating, bicycle riding, or skateboarding within the parking areas unless expressly authorized by the Authorized Representative.”
Also in the parking lot, “No tables, barbecues, chairs, umbrellas or other objects shall be permitted on walkways, driveways, landscaped areas, vehicle access lanes and promenades in the parking areas without the permission of the Authorized Representative. Tailgating is only allowed in specific permitted parking lots.”
You’ve got to pay for parking.
Don’t take more than one space.
Don’t use other parking spaces for seating, tailgating, etc. Keep it behind your car, basically.
This one could help prevent fights between rival teams’ fans: “No person shall interfere in any manner with the use of an adjacent parking space.”
You’ve got to keep your radio or banjo at a reasonable volume. Nothing can be heard from over 50 feet away.
No selling food, drink, or services in the parking lot or the perimeter sidewalk.
In the parking lot, no kegs, or any type of glass unless it’s for prescription medicine.

Violating these could land you a first-time fine of $100, or up to 6 months in jail or fines of up to $1,000 depending on how bad it is.

This is just a starting point though, and the public has plenty of time to review these policies before they become an official Santa Clara ordinance.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/03/25/49ers-levi-stadium-home-of-super-bowl-l-santa-clara-rules-fans-ordinance-banned-ban-bugles-reptiles-and-spilling-anything/

Swedish soccer match called off after man dies amid fan fighting

AP, 3/30/14

STOCKHOLM – A Swedish soccer league match was called off during the first half Sunday after a man died following fighting among fans before the game.

The 43-year-old Djurgarden fan was found “seriously injured” about 2:30 p.m. in central Helsingborg in southern Sweden, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

He reportedly had been hit in the head by an object. Swedish media said Djurgarden fans stormed the field after word spread that the man had died.

Police did not release his name and said no arrests had been made.

“The Djurgarden family is in mourning,” the Stockholm club said in a statement. “We can’t describe in words how we’re feeling right now.”

Helsingborg said on its website, “We feel an enormous emptiness.” It added that Swedish soccer is “united in the fight” against violence.

The game between Helsingborg and Djurgarden was called off in the 41st minute with the score 1-1.

The death overshadowed the opening round of the Swedish league season, which runs from March to November, with politicians, players and clubs calling for an end to fan violence.

Hooligan fighting is still common in Sweden, but this was the first fatal fan violence since 2002, when a 26-year-old man was killed in Stockholm during clashes between supporters of AIK and IFK Goteborg.

Former Arsenal and Sweden midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg tweeted that “I feel sick” over the death.

Henrik Larsson, a former Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United striker who played for Helsingborg in the Swedish league and now coaches the second-division club Falkenberg, told the newspaper Expressen the violence has to stop.

“It’s time we do something about this,” Larsson said. “We can’t send our children to the arenas and not have them come home again.”

Former UEFA President Lennart Johansson, a Swede, said fan violence is a matter for both Swedish authorities and European soccer’s ruling body.

“The evil forces have to go away,” Johansson told Expressen. “We have to find clearer measures through a co-operation between clubs, police and authorities.”
AP

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/swedish-soccer-match-called-off-after-man-dies-amid-fan-fighting/

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