SandyMalonePhiladelphia, PA – Police arrested an out-of-control fan at a Philadelphia Eagle’s tailgate party on Sunday, after he assaulted both a mounted police officer and his horse (video below).
This was the second week in a row that an Eagles fan was arrested for assaulting a police horse, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Police said a mounted Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) corporal was attempting to disperse a crowd in the M lot at Lincoln Financial Field just after 3 p.m. on Sunday when 19-year-old Andrew Tornetta refused to comply with commands to leave the area, WTXF reported.
First, Tornetta became verbally combative. Then he began shedding layers of clothing in order to escape the police officers.
He slipped out of his jacket, which the police corporal was holding onto, and punched the police horse twice. Then he punched the corporal in the face, just below his eye.
Then Tornetta shed his sweatshirt in what appeared to be an effort to hide from police in the crowd, but it didn’t work and he was quickly arrested, the Inquirer reported.
Tornetta was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and other related offenses.
It was the second week in a row that a PSP horse was assaulted at an Eagles game.
At last week’s game, Taylor Hendricks, was arrested for repeatedly punching a mounted officer’s horse after being ejected from the Eagles Divisional playoff game when they were beating the Falcons.
Hendricks, 22, was drunk and didn’t have a ticket to the game, according to the Inquirer.
Philadelphia Eagles fans have developed such a notorious reputation that fans from Minnesota who came to town for the playoff game were advised to be very careful around them.
“If the Vikings win, yes, I would take off any sort of colors,” Ticket King’s Drew Baydala told KMSP-TV. “I know it sounds ridiculous, like we’re almost talking about gangs here. But it’s no joke down in Philly. It really isn’t.”
A number of travel companies planned excursions for Viking fans who wanted to attend the game. They also offered tips on staying safe at an Eagles football game.
“I would advise you not to be overly inebriated, because they will be,” said Steve Erban, of Creative Charters, told KMSP-TV.
You can see the video of the man who attacked the police horse below: