NEW YORK, April 22 (UPI) -- A New York man was arrested during a Mets game at Shea Stadium for allegedly trying to blind players with a high-power flashlight.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Frank Martinez was arrested Friday and accused of trying to blind Atlanta Braves players -- including pitcher Tim Hudson and shortstop Edgar Renteria -- in the eighth inning, The New York Times reported Sunday. The second base umpire alerted officials and the game was paused while Martinez was taken into custody.
"In a game in which the ball can travel upwards of 110 miles per hour, the defendant's alleged actions were dangerous to both spectators and players," Brown said. "This was definitely not the defendant's most shining moment."
Martinez could face up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted of with a professional sporting event and second-degree reckless endangerment.
