Despite reports that investigators may have the wrong suspect, Toronto police say they are “confident” they have correctly identified the fan who threw a beer can at a Baltimore Orioles outfielder during the Toronto Blue Jays American League wild-card game Tuesday.
“We will not confirm any reports. However, we are confident we have made a positive ID and will continue to work with the Rogers Centre to further the investigation,” Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu said Thursday, adding that police are expected to provide an update later in the day.
“Police have been working hand-in-hand with the Rogers Centre and they’ve received information, which is the photograph that has been released late last night, and working together we’ve identified the person that we’re looking for.”
READ MORE: Man who allegedly threw beer can during Blue Jays-Orioles game identified
With the score tied 2-2 in the seventh inning of the AL wild-card game, Jays pinch hitter Melvin Upton Jr. flied out to deep left field.
But as Baltimore Orioles left fielder Hyun Soo Kim made the catch, he narrowly avoided being struck in the head by a beer can.
Global News confirmed through a senior executive at Postmedia late Wednesday that the suspect in the investigation is Ken Pagan, a sports copy editor at the media company’s head office in Hamilton.
The Toronto Sun, which is also owned by Postmedia, issued a $1,000 reward to anyone able to identify the man who police allege threw the can at Kim.
Pagan told the Sun police may have the incident wrong, but declined to speak directly to the allegation on the advice of his lawyer. He added there were Twitter photos showing a cup in his hand after the can was thrown.
Pagan also said he had spoken with police and had made arrangements to turn himself in, according to the newspaper.
“I’d love to tell you what happened and my story … but I can’t say anything,” he said.
Sidhu said she could not speak directly to the questions regarding whether the release of Pagan’s photo by police had incited a witch hunt on social media, but added it was standard police procedure.
“With anything that happens throughout the city, it’s very common for us to release photograph stills of the people that we’re looking for and seeking the public’s assistance for that person to turn themselves in — or for someone to identify them so that police can further investigate,” she said.
“An offence had taken place and just like any other investigation we always work in cooperation with the organization. We were able to pinpoint who we’re looking for, we know what happened and we’re appealing to the public for their assistance in helping us with this investigation.”
READ MORE: Thrilling Blue Jays-Orioles wild-card game marred by tossed beer can, hurled racial slurs
After the can was thrown, Orioles centre fielder Adam Jones could be seen angrily gesturing towards the crowd and manager Buck Showalter came out of the dugout to speak with umpires.
Details of the incident also grew uglier after Jones said he was taunted with racial slurs.
The incident was condemned on all fronts, including Toronto Mayor John Tory who expressed his disgust at the incident calling the culprit a “loon-ball” during an interview radio station Newstalk1010. However, he noted the person was just one of about 50,000 fans at the Rogers Centre.
Jays and baseball fans alike took to social media to quickly condemn the beer tossing and called for the person to be banned from the Rogers Centre.
Meanwhile, Major League Baseball said it too was “extremely disappointed.”
“Any fan who resorts to dangerous actions like last night’s — in Toronto or elsewhere — will be subject to arrest,” it said. “We ask all fans to alert stadium operations employees if they witness any form of unacceptable behaviour from fellow spectators.”
The Blue Jays said in a statement Wednesday they were “cooperating with authorities to identify the suspect, adding he would be permanently banned from the stadium.
“We will also enact heightened security measures and alcohol policies that will ensure the fan experience and safety of everybody involved,” the statement read.
Blue Jays spokesman Erik Grosman said the person who threw the beer can was not ejected from the stadium because the individual took off before police had a chance to make an arrest.
Kim, the target of the toss, said such an incident should never happen.
“It’s the first time for me and hopefully the last,” he said through an interpreter.
Jones, who said he heard racial slurs after the can was thrown, called the incident “pathetic.”
“You don’t do that. Yell, cuss or scream,” Jones said.
“To put us in harm’s way, when all we’re doing is focusing on the game, that’s not part of baseball. Not part of any sport.”
It’s not the first time, however, that rowdy behaviour from some Jays fans has caused a stir.
Blue Jays fans tossed bottles and debris on the field during Game 5 of last year’s AL Division Series against the Rangers, upset by the call that let Rougned Odor score from third after catcher Russell Martin’s throw back to the mound deflected off Shin Soo Choo’s bat. A baby was narrowly missed.
Following that episode, a decision was made to serve beer in plastic cups in the upper tier of the stadium for certain games.
READ MORE: Toronto Blue Jays announce starters for AL division series against Texas Rangers
A Blue Jays fan also threw a drink at Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth during a game at Rogers Centre in May 2013.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact police 416-808-5200.
– With files from Kevin Nielsen, Andrew Russell, Mark Carcasole and The Canadian Press
Comments