Second person arrested for throwing sex toy at a WNBA game

An 18-year-old man was arrested after the sex toy he launched in a WNBA match in Phoenix hit a man and perhaps a young girl seated in front of him.

It is one of the five recent incidents of these objects launched by fans during a WNBA match and the second so far to cause arrest.

Waddell, Arizona, resident Kaden Lopez was sentenced to a suspicion of a crime chief of public presentation of obscene materials and two chiefs of disorderly aggression and conduct. He appeared in court on Wednesday and was released from his own commitment, with his next appearance before the court scheduled for August 21.

According to a declaration of probable cause filed by the arrest officer of the Phoenix police service and seen by the Times, Lopez attended the Mercury match against Connecticut Sun at Phx Arena on Tuesday when he “launched a green dildo to the seats in front of him”.

The press release initially indicated that the object would have struck an “adult male victim as well as the 9 -year niece of the victims”. The document later indicates that the “male victim” told the police that the object struck him on the back and “then fell to the ground next to them”.

Lopez then tried to leave the arena, said the press release, but a volunteer from the arena who witnessed the alleged incident followed him, attacked him and waited for the arrival of the authorities.

According to the press release, Lopez told the police who stop that he had bought the toy the day before to take with him to the game, but had no intention of “hitting anyone” or “fall next to a child”.

“Lopez said he was very sorry, that it was just a stupid farce that tended on social networks,” the statement added.

The tendency to launch sex toys – apparently always in green – at WNBA games seems to have started on July 29, when one of the objects was thrown on the field while the Golden State Valkyries played Atlanta’s dream at the Gateway Center Arena. The WNBA announced on Saturday that “the subject involved in the incident in Atlanta was arrested”.

According to an ESPN report, Delbert Carver, 23, was arrested on Saturday by College Park, in Georgia, the police as part of this incident. Carver would have told the police that the blow was supposed to be a joke to become viral.

Judicial files show that Carver faces criminal intrusion chiefs, disorderly conduct and public indecency. He was released on bail for an amount not disclosed on Sunday and was to appear in court the next day.

On August 1, a sex toy was thrown under the basket during a match between the Valkyries and the Chicago sky. Then, during the Sparks’ victory over Indiana fever at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, another object of this type landed in painting near the Sophie Cunningham fever with 2:05 to play in the first half.

“We are working with ARENA staff to identify the responsible person and guarantee that appropriate measures are taken,” the Sparks said in a statement sent by email to Times on Thursday. “The conduct of fans who disrupts the game or compromises the safety of anyone in the arena will not be tolerated.”

A fans’ video also seemed to show one of the objects launched towards the courtyard and almost struck a child while the Dallas wings played on Tuesday at the New York Liberty at the Barclays Center.

According to a USA Today report Thursday, a cryptocurrency group claims the responsibility of certain incidents, although it indicates that neither Lopez nor Carver are affiliated to the group. The “pranks” are part of a protest against the “toxic” environment in the world of cryptography, according to the report, and other cascades have been planned.

The WNBA refused to comment on this article and rather returned the Times to a statement which it published on Saturday.

“The security and well-being of all in our arenas are an absolute priority for our league,” said the League. “Objects of all kinds thrown into the field or in the lounge area may present a security risk for players, game officials and fans. In accordance with the safety standards of the WNBA Arena, any fan who intentionally throws an object in the court will be immediately ejected and will face a minimum prohibition of one year in addition to being subject to the arrest and the pursuit of the local authorities.”