Reds fan who had charges dropped after on-field back flip to throw out first pitch at Yall's game (2024)

QUESTIONING THE DECISION TO DISMISS A CRIMINAL, CHARGES FILED AGAINST THIS REDS FAN HERE. HE WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA RUNNING ONTO THE FIELD AND DOING A BACK FLIP. AND WE LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY OF CINCINNATI ARE NO LONGER PROSECUTING THE CASE AGAINST WILLIAM HENDON, A DECISION WHICH MANY ARE QUESTIONING. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER TODD -- IS LIVE RIGHT NOW OUTSIDE GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK WITH REACTION TOD. YEAH. YOU KNOW, MIKE AND CHARI, THERE ARE SOME IN THE LOCAL LEGAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE PUZZLED BY THE OUTCOME IN THE CASE AGAINST WILLIAM HENDON, AND ONE REASON THEY’RE RAISING QUESTIONS IS THAT OTHER SIMILAR CASES HAVE ENDED WITH GUILTY PLEAS NEAR THE END OF A REDS LOSS TO CLEVELAND BACK IN JUNE, WILLIAM HENDON TOOK A RUNNING TOUR OF THE OUTFIELD OF GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK. THE 19 YEAR OLD MANAGED TO NAIL A BACKFLIP BEFORE GETTING TASED BY A POLICE OFFICER. HENDON WAS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS CRIMINAL TRESPASS AT A PLACE OF PUBLIC AMUsem*nT AND OBSTRUCTING OFFICIAL BUSINESS. ON THURSDAY, LAWYERS FOR THE CITY OF CINCINNATI DISMISSED THE CASE AGAINST HENDON AFTER HE COMPLETED A DIVERSION PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDED PAYING A $200 FEE, COMPLETING 30 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, UNDERGOING A DRUG AND ALCOHOL ASSESSMENT AND TAKING A CLASS ON CRITICAL THINKING. DIVERSION IS A PROGRAM THAT, THE WAY I DESCRIBE IT TO CLIENTS IS LIKE PROBATION BEFORE A CONVICTION ABOUT A DECADE AGO, THE OUTCOME IN A SEPARATE BUT SIMILAR CASE WAS QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT. THIS VIDEO SHOWS JUSTIN BUCHANAN, WHO WAS ALSO 19 AT THE TIME, RUNNING IN THE OUTFIELD DURING A REDS LOSS TO THE CUBS. POLICE CHARGED BUCHANAN WITH CRIMINAL TRESPASSING, BUT HIS ATTORNEY, BRAD GROWNEY, TOLD ME TODAY THAT CITY LAWYERS OBJECTED TO LETTING BUCHANAN GO THE DIVERSION ROUTE. INSTEAD, HE PLEADED GUILTY, LEAVING BUCHANAN WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD. GROWNEY TOLD ME HE’S GLAD WILLIAM HENDON GOT DIVERSION, BUT HE STILL DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHY HIS CLIENT DID NOT. I ASKED JAY CLARK, AN ATTORNEY WHO’S NOT CONNECTED TO EITHER CASE, TO WEIGH IN. I UNDERSTAND WHY HE’S FRUSTRATED BECAUSE FROM WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THAT CASE, HIS CLIENT SHOULD HAVE GOT DIVERSION. ALSO. BUT YOU’RE LOOKING BACK, WHAT, FIVE AND FOREMOST, NINE YEARS AGO. UM, DIFFERENT CITY SOLICITORS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT MINDSET. NOW THE HENDON AND BUCHANAN CASES ARE TWO OF JUST A HANDFUL OF CASES INVOLVING CHARGES OF THAT, UH, CREATING A CRIMINAL TRESPASS AT A PLACE OF PUBLIC AMUsem*nT. THERE WAS A 24 YEAR OLD MAN FROM CANADA WHO LAST FALL, DURING A BENGALS HOME LOSS TO THE BALTIMORE RAVENS, HE WAS SOMEWHERE HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AT PAYCOR STADIUM. HE GOT CHARGED WITH THAT COUNT, AND HE ENDED UP PLEADING GUILTY FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE TONIGHT OUTSIDE GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK. TODD -- WLWT N