Eagles fan, 19, arrested ‘for punching police horse’

An overenthusiastic Philadelphia Eagles fan was arrested over the weekend for allegedly punching a police horse and a mounted officer before his team’s NFC championship victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Sunday’s incident in Philadelphia marks the second time in a month that a police horse was punched around the time of an Eagles playoff game.

Police said a mounted state police corporal was trying to disperse a crowd in a parking lot outside Lincoln Financial Field at around 3.15pm on Sunday when 19-year-old Andrew Tornetta struck the horse twice in the shoulder and then hit the corporal in the face.

The Eagles fan is accused of punching a police horse

Grisly scene: Andrew Tornetta, 19, is pictured left with blood streaming down his face following his arrest before the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC championship victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The Eagles fan is accused of punching a police horse 

Horsing around: Tornetta is seen struggling with a mounted officer after allegedly striking a police horse and punching a corporal in the face as the latter was trying to arrest him in Parking Lot M at Lincoln Financial Filed in Philadelphia on Sunday 

Horsing around: Tornetta is seen struggling with a mounted officer after allegedly striking a police horse and punching a corporal in the face as the latter was trying to arrest him in Parking Lot M at Lincoln Financial Filed in Philadelphia on Sunday 

Tornetta is being charged with aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangering and related offenses, police said. 

Photos and video taken at the time of the violent confrontation between fans and police show a shirtless Tornetta with blood streaming down his face and dripping onto his naked torso from a cut to his forehead, according to NJ.com.

In his mugshot taken after his arrest, the 19-year-old is seen with a large bandage right above his nose and wearing a torn black T-shirt. 

It emerged on Monday that Tornetta, of North Wales, is student at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management. He is expected to graduate in 2020.

The naked truth: Tornetta wriggled out of his jacket and sweatshirt in an attempt to flee, but was apprehended by cops. It's unclear how he was injured  

The naked truth: Tornetta wriggled out of his jacket and sweatshirt in an attempt to flee, but was apprehended by cops. It’s unclear how he was injured  

A university representative  said Tornetta could face disciplinary actions for his off-campus conduct on Sunday.

According to a statement from Philadelphia police, shortly after 3pm on Sunday, a mounted police corporal tried to disperse a large crowd of fans in the stadium parking lot, but one person – later identified as Andrew Tornetta – refused to follow the officer’s verbal commands.

He cleans up well: Tornetta, of North Wales, is student at Temple University's Fox School of Business and Management 

He cleans up well: Tornetta, of North Wales, is student at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management 

As the officer was trying to escort the fan away, Tornetta ‘became verbally combative and maneuvered himself out of his jacket.’

The mounted officer grabbed the teenager by his sweatshirt because he was now under arrest, at which point Tornetta allegedly ‘struck the officer’s horse two time with his fist, on the right front shoulder,’ according to the statement.

Tornetta then allegedly punched the corporal in the face, causing redness and swelling below his right eye, before stripping off his sweatshirt and trying to melt into the crowd of fans.

He was eventually taken into custody by other officers who were present at the scene. 

A week earlier, during the Eagles’ 15-10 playoff victory over the Atlanta Falcons, 22-year-old Taylor Hendricks was turned away from the game because he was intoxicated and didn’t have a ticket. He also punched a horse and was arrested, police said.

Police reported just six arrests amid the Eagles’ 38-7 win over the Vikings, which sends Philadelphia’s team to its first Super Bowl game since 2005. The Eagles will play the New England Patriots. 



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