Wednesday, September 18, 2002
NFL Notebook
Pepper spray use defended
The Associated Press
PALMER PARK, Md. - Police defended the use of pepper spray during Monday night's Washington Redskins-Philadelphia Eagles game, causing an eight-minute delay.
The Prince George's County (Md.) Police Dept. issued a statement Tuesday saying officers and FedEx Field ushers responding to a report of a fight in the stands found a fan being kicked to the ground by other fans.
A sergeant tried to stop the fight, but there were too many people involved. So he used his department-issued pepper spray, which immediately stopped the brawl and sent the attackers fleeing.
“The officer made the decision to deploy the pepper spray to quickly control a potentially dangerous situation with the minimal force necessary to assist the spectator in trouble,” police said. “The action was taken to safeguard the well being of all nearby spectators.”
The fight broke out with about 61/2 minutes to play and the Redskins on their way to a 37-7 loss. By that time, more than half the 84,982 fans had left.
“If that had happened before last Sept.11, you would have thought nothing of it,” Redskins tackle Jon Jansen said, “because we've all been in stadiums where the crowd gets out of hand. But, any more, you don't know what it is, especially in this area.”
Police said cooling fans on the field pulled the pepper spray residue behind the Eagles' bench. Philadelphia players scattered from their bench onto the field, and players and fans in the stands on that side of the stadium held their noses.
VIKINGS: Minnesota signed Gary Anderson two days after kicker Doug Brien missed two extra points and a field goal in an overtime loss to Buffalo. Brien will remain with the Vikings to handle kickoffs and long field goals.
BUCCANEERS: Tampa Bay signed free agent tight end Rickey Dudley and released second-year guard Russ Hochstein. Dudley, a former Ohio State Buckeye who was released by Cleveland before the season, also played for Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden when both were with the Raiders.
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Pepper spray use defended
