A man who pleaded guilty to throwing a can of beer on the field at the Rogers Centre during the AL wild-card game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles last fall has been given a conditional discharge.
Kenneth Pagan, who worked as a sports copy editor at Postmedia’s Hamilton, Ont. office and later left the position, was charged with one count of mischief on Oct. 6, 2016 after surrendering to police two days after the beer throwing incident.
A can thrown from the stands narrowly missed Baltimore Orioles player Hyun Soo Kim as he was attempting to make a catch during the 7th inning.
Pagan offered an apology in court before a judge ordered the conditional discharge, saying he is a lifelong baseball fan and threw the can when his emotions got the best of him in an exciting moment.
“I would first like to say how fortunate I am that nobody was injured in this incident and that the game was able to continue. I do realize how lucky I am and the situation could have been worse,” Pagan said in a statement Wednesday.
“I’d like to apologize to the Toronto Blue Jays organization, the Baltimore Orioles organization, and especially Baltimore outfielder Hyun Soo Kim.”
READ MORE: Man who allegedly threw beer can during Blue Jays-Orioles game identified
Pagan said he takes “full responsibility” for the incident that has “no place in Major League Baseball.”
“My emotions got the best of me in an exciting moment and my reaction is a deeply regrettable mistake, something I’ve been torn about since the moment it happened,” he said, in addition to apologizing to MLB and fans.
“I have been a passionate baseball fan since getting hooked as an 8-year-old in the summer of 1983 and I am fully aware of the disgrace I brought to the game and the embarrassment this caused.”
Pagan added it was a “deeply regrettable mistake” he was “ashamed of” and that he will work to “make amends” for it for the rest of his life.
VIDEO: Toronto police ‘confident’ they have correctly identified Toronto Blue Jays beer tossing suspect
The conditions of Pagan’s discharge include 12 months of probation, 100 hours of community service and an order to stay away from Major League Baseball games for a year.
He was also ordered to stay 500 metres away from the Rogers Centre.
Pagan’s lawyer had asked for his client to be given an absolute discharge, arguing he has suffered from intense media scrutiny since the can toss, become the butt of jokes and has been subjected to online harassment.
The incident forced the Jays to ban the sale of beer in cans at the Rogers Centre for the rest of the post-season. The ban was lifted during the start of the 2017 season.
With files from Lama Nicolas, Ryan Rocca and The Canadian Press
- Canada’s most wanted list: Toronto suspect in fatal shooting at No. 1
- Man acquitted in Tina Fontaine murder found dead, says her aunt
- Gas station clerk stabbed several times during violent attack at Ultramar in Montreal
- Canadians should expect politicians to support right to bail, Virani’s office says
Comments