Philadelphia police probe use of Taser on fan

PHILADELPHIA - City police are considering whether officers should get involved when unruly but nonthreatening fans sprint onto the field during sporting events. The review began after a teenager was subdued with a Taser at a Phillies game.

A police officer used his stun gun Monday night on a boy who jumped onto the field and ran around in circles in the outfield.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey examined video of the arrest and thought the officer acted within department guidelines, which allow officers to use Tasers to arrest fleeing suspects, police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said. The department's internal affairs unit is investigating.

The mother of the 17-year-old apologized for his actions. Amy Ziegler told WTXF-TV that her son, Steve Consalvi of Boyertown, Pa., regrets running onto the field. "It was just absolutely stupid,'' Ziegler said.

The boy's father, Wayne Consalvi, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that his son called him from the ballpark to tell him about the stunt. Wayne Consalvi said he told him not to do it.

Last night, another fan ran onto the field at Citizens Bank Park, but security did not use a Taser to apprehend the man. He hopped over the fence in leftfield and ran along the warning track waving his arms. The crowd booed and he soon gave himself up without incident.

The department is reviewing whether its officers should be on the field wrangling runaway fans who aren't threatening anyone, Vanore said.

Consalvi leaped onto the field during the top of the eighth inning. He ran around in the outfield, waving a white towel, and dodged two security officers. The police officer chased him for about 30 seconds before the stun gun probe hit the fan, who stumbled forward, slid face-first on the grass and stayed down for about 30 seconds before walking off the field.

"From the preliminary look at it, it appears that the officer was within the policy," Vanore said. "He was attempting to make an arrest and the male was attempting to flee."

Police said Consalvi is charged with defiant trespass, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Mary Catherine Roper, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union in Philadelphia, said she didn't understand why the officer had to use a Taser.

"How long can [the fan] really run around out there?" she said. "In this situation, he's not dangerous, he's not getting away."