Police: Man Arrested For Kicking Heinz Field Barriers, Trying To Bribe Officers
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) –A man was arrested after injuring a woman by kicking a steel barrier at Heinz Field Sunday evening.
According to police, 29-year-old Stephen Sapp was intoxicated at the time of the incident.
According to the criminal complaint, Heinz Field security alerted Pittsburgh Police officers on duty at the stadium to Sapp's disorderly conduct.
Sapp was yelling and screaming near Gate C when officers arrived. At that time, officers told Sapp to leave the stadium, but he refused.
Sapp allegedly began, "to violently and recklessly push and throw the steel dividers around in a dangerous, disorderly manner."
Officers informed Sapp that he would be arrested if he did not cease his disorderly behavior.
He then allegedly kicked another steel barrier, which caused it to bend and come off the ground. As a result, a woman sitting on the other side was struck in the head by the barrier.
She was knocked unconscious and transported to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment.
Officers immediately moved to place Sapp under arrest, but he resisted. One officer got Sapp on the ground with a leg sweep/hip toss. However, Sapp kept his arms under his body to prevent officers from being able to use their handcuffs.
Eventually, they were able to free his hands and get Sapp into handcuffs.
Sapp sustained some cuts in the struggle and was transported to UPMC Mercy Hospital for treatment.
While at the hospital, Sapp allegedly tried to bribe officers to let him go.
According to the criminal complaint, Sapp stated, "Listen, I know how this works. How much money will it take to make this go away and to let me go home today?"
The officers informed Sapp that he could not attempt to bribe them, but Sapp continued.
"Look, I am an IRS agent and I can help you in other ways if you let me go home and make this go away."
After being treated at the hospital, Sapp was transported to the Allegheny County Jail and was being held on $10,000 bond.
Sapp is facing a list of charges including, aggravated assault, defiant trespass, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person and bribery.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12.
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