BOSTON (WPRI/AP) — Boston police have arrested a man accused of hitting Boston Red Sox Manager Alex Cora with a can of beer during the team’s World Series victory parade.
Police say 19-year-old Patrick Connolly, of Sandwich, was charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Police said Connolly is a student at Bryant University in Smithfield.
According to a police report, Cora and a witness, Security Director of the Red Sox Charles Cellucci, pointed detectives in the direction of where the beer came from and what the suspect looked like. When detectives searched the area, several spectators pointed them in Connolly’s direction.
Police said the beer can struck Cora, covering him with beer, but not injuring him.
The police report said when officers approached Connolly, he had a can of Natural Light beer in his hand. He admitted he hit Cora with the beer can, saying he “didn’t mean to hit him” and was then taken into police custody.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the beer can Connolly allegedly threw was the same can that hit and damaged a World Series trophy. Team spokeswoman Zineb Curran declined to comment, other than to say the incidents were unfortunate but didn’t appear intentional.
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Hundreds of thousands of jubilant fans turned out for the procession through downtown Boston to celebrate the fourth Red Sox championship title in 15 years.
