Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
It’s not rare for fights to break out between fans at sporting events. However, the Pirates found themselves dealing with a fairly unique situation after suspending an employee who was captured whipping someone with his belt after tensions flared at a recent game.
Sports teams go to great lengths to ensure everyone who attends a game in person ends up having an enjoyable experience, but you’re inevitably going to run into more than a few issues whenever you’re dealing with tens of thousands of fans packed inside a stadium or arena where you never have to walk too far to get your hands on some booze.
Those venues boast a sizeable number of employees who are tasked with addressing any problems that may arise, and based on my experience working security at games and tournaments in a past life, one of the biggest points of emphasis is knowing how to handle a situation without escalating things when you encounter a scenario where law enforcement should probably get involved.
I’m going to assume the Pittsburgh Pirates instruct the employees at PNC Park to adhere to the same philosophy, but one of them failed to exercise the proper amount of restraint based on a video of an altercation that unfolded when the team hosted the Padres on Sunday afternoon.
According to CBS News, the unnamed worker witnessed two fans harassing a female employee at a concession stand and intervened before engaging in a heated conversation with one of the men that turned physical when he punched him multiple times.
The guy he clocked eventually retaliated by spitting on him, and they engaged in a standoff while continuing to trade words before the employee removed his belt from his pants and proceeded to whip the fan before bystanders intervened.
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Police officers eventually arrived on the scene, and the Pirates confirmed they’ve suspended the worker at the center of the incident after launching an investigation into what transpired in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.