During Game 6 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers first-round playoffs series at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, an altercation was reported between an “NBA player and citizen”.
On Wednesday, the Indianapolis Police announced an open investigation after Patrick Beverley threw a ball at a fan in the final minutes of a season-ending loss to the Pacers.
Indianapolis police announced Wednesday they've opened an investigation after Bucks guard Patrick Beverley threw a ball at a fan in the final minutes of a season-ending loss to the Pacers. https://t.co/V5iGrg1wLW
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 8, 2024
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said the case has been assigned to detectives, “who are currently investigating this situation and take all accusations seriously.”
Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports, Detectives are reviewing the footage to see what had happened and further speak with the people involved in the May 2 incident.
The IMPD shared in a statement.
“The report has been forwarded to IMPD detectives, who are currently investigating this situation and take all accusations seriously. Detectives are working with Gainbridge Fieldhouse to review video footage and plan to speak with the parties involved.”
Per the footage, with two and a half minutes to play in the game, Beverley was seen throwing tossing the ball at a fan into the stands from Milwaukee’s bench. As he missed his target it hit a female Pacers fan and a fan threw the ball back which instantly the Bucks guard fired it back at that spectator.
The fan deflected the ball as Bucks staff and security stepped in, but the fan and Beverley continued to exchange words.
Per the statement released, once the investigation is concluded, detectives will be presenting the case to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, who will decide whether to bring charges.
Bucks guard, Beverley, shared on a recent episode of “The Pat Bev Podcast” released Wednesday. He called it “still inexcusable” for his own actions,
“I will be better, I have to be better, and I will be better. That should have never happened. Regardless of what was said, that should have never happened. Simple as that.”
