A New York Yankees fan has been arrested for knocking out an Indians fan outside Progressive Field in Cleveland on Wednesday.
Joseph Luchese, from Niagara Falls, allegedly punched a 32-year-old Indians fan from Rocky River unconscious during a brawl that erupted after the Yankees beat Cleveland 5-2 in game five of the American League Division Series.
The 36-year-old was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and is being held at at the city jail while he awaits his first court appearance, cleveland.com reported.
Joseph Luchese, 36, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly knocking out an Indians fan after the Yankees beat the Cleveland team 5-2
The men of the Luchese family go to Cleveland every year to watch the Yankees play the Indians, according to Joseph’s Facebook (he is pictured on the far right with his family)
According to the local news site, two groups of fans each decked out in their team’s gear claimed that the other group was to blame for starting the fight, which broke out at the Gateway Plaza between the ballpark and Quicken Loans Arena.
A 37-year-old Indians fan from Strongsville was also arrested in connection to the brawl, but was released on Friday.
He told police that he ‘aggressively pumped’ Luchese with his shoulder, and the Yankees fan then sucker-punched the victim, per police reports.
But according to Luchese, it was the Indian fans who taunted and attacked his group, and he punched the Rocky River man in self-defense.
The brawl erupted outside Progressive Field in Cleveland (pictured), at the Gateway Plaza, between the ballpark and Quicken Loans Arena
According to police, two groups of fans each decked out in their team’s gear claimed that the other group was to blame for starting the fight (pictured is Wednesday’s game)
Police reports say that surveillance video showed the Strongville man throwing the first punch at Luchese and, after he missed, the Yankees fan landed his punch on the other man.
It appears that Luchese’s arrest could have ruined a beloved family tradition of traveling to Cleveland one a year to root for their favorite team.
‘The Yankees play there once a year in August,’ Joseph wrote on a picture with his family on Facebook. ‘Me and the boys go every year.’