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Reds Fan Charged with Trespassing for Running Onto Field in Viral Backflip Video

Adam Wells

The fan who went viral Tuesday night for executing a backflip in the ninth inning of a game between the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds has been charged with a crime.

Per court records obtained by Quinlan Bentley of the Cincinnati Enquirer, William Hendon was charged with criminal trespassing and a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business. A judge reduced his criminal trespassing charge to a misdemeanor "at the behest of prosecutors, because he was wrongly charged with a felony," according to Bentley.

Video of the incident shows Hendon appearing to stop in the outfield to talk with a Guardians player before starting his run again, then stopping to perform a backflip as a security guard rapidly approached him.

After Hendon completed the backflip and started running again, the security guard tased him.

Bentley's story included an amusing exchange between Hendon and Municipal Court Judge William Mallory from the arraignment hearing on Wednesday.

"Everybody thinks you landed that backflip," Mallory said.

"I'm pretty sure I did," Hendon responded while still wearing the Reds jersey he had on Tuesday night.

According to Bentley, one of the court documents stated Hendon purposely impeded a public official's lawful duties and did so "with purpose to delay his arrest run from police."

Hendon pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was booked into Hamilton County Justice Center at 10:51 p.m. local time on Tuesday night and was held overnight without bond.

The 19-year-old Hendon is a sophomore at Ohio State. Bentley noted he is currently banned from Great American Ball Park and will be back in court on July 3 for a pretrial hearing.

The incident occurred prior to the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday night. The Guardians went on to win the game 5-3 in the first game of the season between the two in-state rivals.

   

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