After being hit by Los Angeles Rams players Takkarist McKinley and Bobby Wagner as well as a security guard when he ran onto the field at Levi’s Stadium during Monday Night Football, a protester from the Bay Area animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere has hit back with a criminal complaint.
Though it is unclear if McKinley, Wagner, the Rams or anyone involved with Levi’s Stadium was named in the complaint, a representative from the Santa Clara Police Department confirmed to the Associated Press that they’re looking into the incident.
“It’s an active investigation,” Lieutenant Cuong Phan told Yahoo Sports. “I can confirm a person did come in [Tuesday] at 1:45 p.m. and filed a report. However, it’s an ongoing investigation, so we’re not able to release details at this time.”
The filing of the police report comes on the heels of a rep from Direct Action Everywhere telling TMZ that the protester rushed the field wielding a pink flare and shirt to raise awareness for a trial involving the alleged theft of pigs from a factory farm. Per the group, the man suffered a burn injury during the “blatant assault” by the two Rams. “Otherwise, they’re a bit beaten up but in good spirits,” the rep said.
Newsflash to Direct Action Everywhere and their protester, but if you run onto an NFL football field, which is probably trespassing and may even be causing a public disturbance if not something worse, you should expect to be “a bit beaten up.” In fact, being in “good spirits” after being drilled by McKinley and Wagner is actually somewhat of a win and it may have been wise to just let it go without getting the police further involved. However, filing the police report does keep the story in news, as evidenced here, so perhaps that’s really the real goal as opposed to actual criminal charges for McKinley, Wagner or anyone else.
For what it’s worth, Wagner doesn’t seem overly concerned about legal consequences. “I heard about it, but it is what it is,” the eight-time Pro Bowler said. “It’s behind me. I ain’t really focused on it. I’m more concerned about the security guard that was hurt trying to chase him. We don’t know what that [pink smoke] is. You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Per Santa Clara police, the investigation remains open and the complaint will not be made public until the case is closed or results in a charge. The former seems much, much more likely.
“I think that we all know where Bobby’s intentions were, and I support Bobby Wagner,” Rams coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. “I don’t think anybody would disagree.”
Nope.
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