The fan managed an impressive backflip before Cincinnati police stopped him with a stun gun during the Reds-Guardians game.
A baseball fan surprised the crowd at the Cincinnati Reds game on Tuesday by performing a backflip on the field, only to be swiftly detained by police wielding a stun gun. The incident took place in the ninth inning of the Reds’ game against the Cleveland Guardians at Great American Ball Park.
The field invader, later identified as 19-year-old William Hendon, sported a vintage No. 5 Johnny Bench jersey and initially did not flee when officers approached. Instead, he performed an acrobatic backflip before attempting to escape across the field. However, Hendon was quickly stopped after covering only a short distance as Cincinnati police subdued him with a stun gun.
According to Cincinnati Police Lt. Jonathan Cunningham, Hendon ran onto the field, posing a potential disruption to the game and a safety concern for players and staff. Officers decided to act swiftly to prevent further chaos. “A fan ran onto the playing field during the game and ran from police when officers attempted to stop him,” Cunningham noted. “This individual was tased by the officer in order to detain him.”
The incident attracted both cheers and gasps from the audience, as Hendon’s backflip was met with surprise before his abrupt takedown. Fans watched as police removed Hendon from the field, resuming order at the stadium.
Field invasions are uncommon but are typically handled quickly by security to minimize interruptions to the game and avoid potential hazards to players and officials. The Cincinnati Reds and Guardians resumed play shortly after the incident, with Hendon taken into custody.
