09 Oct Police Catch Man Who Was Shining Laser Pointer At Buffalo Bills Players
Following the Buffalo Bill’s 17-14 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, team officials for Buffalo filed a formal complaint with the NFL that a Detroit fan was shining a laser pointer at several players during the game last Sunday. Quarterback Kyle Orton and holder Colton Schmidt said they had the laser directed at them during crucial plays of game.
On Thursday, Detroit police say they have caught the fan who is responsible.
Police supposedly confiscated the laser pen that was used after tracking fan Mark Beslach through a social media profile, where he bragged about the incident.
In general, the use of laser pointers is not illegal. However, all four North American major professional sports leagues ban the use of laser pointers at their facilities. Fans caught using them inside a stadium can be ejected, banned from future events, and even arrested. Any criminal case stemming from laser pointer use would depend on how the pointer is used and whether it caused any damage.
In this case, the Detroit fan was issued a misdemeanor citation for disorderly conduct. There was no apparent damage resulting from the pointers’ use, and the Bills were victorious once again, so the fan will have to appear in court and likely only pay a small fine.
In New York, disorderly conduct is considered a violation, and not a crime.
Go Bills!
Source: ESPN.COM
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