Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Chris Sciesinski didn't see the photo of himself until two bailiffs showed him Thursday's St. Petersburg Times in court that morning.
It is a photo Rays fans now know well:
Sciesinski is the Red Sox fan with the shaved head and black T-shirt who scuffled with security and police officers on top of Tampa Bay's dugout during Wednesday's 10-3 win over Boston at Tropicana Field.
Sciesinski was tackled, police say, as he tried to jump onto the field in the seventh inning — and he doesn't deny that was the plan.
So what does Sciesinski have to say for himself?
That he was tired of being hassled by security and the home crowd. Sciesinski said he was "striking back for Red Sox nation" for all the "hatred" from Rays fans.
As for the photo: "Pretty cool."
But all is not cool. Sciesinski is accused of drunkenly cursing Rays fans and was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
And one of the St. Petersburg police officers who subdued him is himself under scrutiny.
That's because of something else shown in the photo: the officer held a Taser to Sciesinski's head.
• • •
St. Petersburg Police Department rules on the use of Taser guns are clear:
"Our policy forbids an officer from either pointing or discharging a Taser at someone's face, head, neck or groin area, for obvious reasons," said police spokesman Bill Proffitt.
Officer Pat McGovern did not discharge the Taser. The photo on Page 3B in some editions of Thursday's Times showed his finger wasn't even on the trigger as he helped Officer Willie Jennings make the arrest.
In fact, police say, Sciesinski wouldn't stop resisting or allow himself to be handcuffed until McGovern threatened to shock him with the Taser.
But the officer's superiors are reviewing the incident. They'll read McGovern's reports and ask him questions, Proffitt said, before deciding what, if any, discipline is required.
• • •
Sciesinski, 33, pleaded no contest to the charge Thursday morning. He also admitted to chanting "Let's go, Red Sox!" in the back of the police van.
The judge found him guilty. He was sentenced to the night he had already spent in jail and fined $375 and court costs.
The Sarasota DJ tells a different story. He wasn't drunk, he said, just "buzzed" after his third rum and Coke. He said he cursed in front of some kids but apologized. He said it was Rays fans who were being rowdy. He was just "heckling."
He said he went limp when he got tackled and that he was threatened with the Taser after he had surrendered. And he said "they beat me up pretty bad."
But Sciesinski said he won't file a complaint.
"If he would have Tased me, yeah, I would," he said. "But there's no need for ill feelings."
Times researcher Shirl Kennedy also contributed to this report. Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.
[Last modified: Sep 26, 2008 12:00 PM]
Comments on this article
by Paul
Sep 26, 2008 12:00 PM
Hey Greg,If they shipped all us Boston fans back north.There might be 12 people left in the stands Loser.
by eric
Sep 25, 2008 8:53 PM
Regarding the whole "bandwagon" thing, I've been going watching the Sox play at the O.J. dome since I moved here. You could count the number of Rays fans there to support their team on one hand. 70% were blue hairs on a field trip. Now, this year...
by Kevin
Sep 25, 2008 3:47 PM
I am am Sox fan, and I would say that this guy is an idiot. Stupide beyond all reason, but not a representation of Sox fans. I have had drunk fans of other teams yell at me as well. Every team has some fans like this
by John Adams
Sep 25, 2008 3:44 PM
Florida is still a swamp...
by Steve
Sep 25, 2008 1:50 PM
JWE, don't paint all Sox fans by the same brush. Using your logic, anyone who attends a Rays game is a bandwagoner since they didn't attend games prior to this year. Also, I don't see Rays mgmt complaining about the boost in attendance for Sox games
by Gerald
Sep 25, 2008 1:50 PM
As a Red Sox fan, let me say that this idiot doesn't represent us all.
by JT
Sep 25, 2008 1:50 PM
One bad apple does not represent the entire fan base...after reading these comments some of you Rays fans need to look in the mirror regarding obnoxious and classless behavior/comments.
by Rob
Sep 25, 2008 1:50 PM
This guy is a tool, but so is Ronnie for wearing any hat in church. Ronnie should move back to TB to put some butts in the seats of that joke of a ballpark. Possible the best team in MLB with the worst fan support, TB fans don't deserve any mlb team.
by Jake
Sep 25, 2008 1:50 PM
Fools like this root for every team. Don't judge all Sox fans by dopes like this.
by Tom
Sep 25, 2008 1:49 PM
Were those security guards or actual police officers?
by E
Sep 20, 2008 10:37 PM
There is a difference between heckling and cursing and being a total tool.
by Rowdy
Sep 20, 2008 10:03 PM
Once again, an addict uses a sporting event to get drunk, as so many do. I'm sure there were as many drunk Ray fans. Some people just can't enjoy themselves without alcohol.
by ben
Sep 20, 2008 9:54 PM
An embarrassment to RS fans everywhere. We're really not all that bad; just a few that funnel their personal problems into sports spectating.
by zoulcleav
Sep 20, 2008 12:35 AM
There is no room here for idiots that still support teams that play for cities 1,000 miles away where they no longer live. This is Tampa Bay. We support Tampa Bay teams here.
by John
Sep 19, 2008 7:19 PM
I am happy for the Rays but I am a Red Sox fan. It's too bad idiots have to spoil it.
by L
Sep 19, 2008 7:19 PM
All DJ's suck. Live music rules!
by JWE
Sep 19, 2008 7:17 PM
And Sox fans want to know why they have the "obnoxious" label. Now we can add, "STUPIDITY!"
Change the name of the green monster to "REDNECK MONSTER!"
This guy proves rednecking has no boundaries.
THIS IS THE HOME OF THE RAYS! YOU SOX GOT WHIPPED!
by Mike
Sep 19, 2008 7:15 PM
Blah Blah Blah, Bandwagon. Stupid comments that mean nothing. All teams have fairweather fans. Considering Boston just broke the record for soldout games which included pre 2004 games, i wouldnt exactly put them at the top of the list
by Mike
Sep 19, 2008 7:15 PM
Screw all you people and your "typical Red Sox fan", go to Yankee stadium, or Tiger Stadium, LA, Oakland, and see there "typical fans". Theres tons of idiot fans for every team in any sport. Just like theres bandwagoiners...
by Mike
Sep 19, 2008 7:14 PM
The Police (and Security) are out of control. America is rapidly becoming a Police State not unlike the old Russia and the current China. Our freedoms are being given away at an alarming rate in the name of "security". He needs to file a complaint!!
by Bryan
Sep 19, 2008 7:12 PM
Sox fan since childhood, I'm embarassed when "fans" engage in this stupidity but I hope most recognize that the majority of fans do not support this. Enough meathead attitudes congregate around all things Boston but I've found this everywhere too.
by John
Sep 19, 2008 7:07 PM
Now it's up to the Trop managers to do the right thing - and ban this guy from the park. You want a "family" environment? You need to take a stand against this kind of behavior. Rowdy is ok, reckless and dangerous is not.
by Jim
Sep 19, 2008 7:06 PM
Maybe "Red Sox Nation" will thank him and pay for his legal fees. Just wait for that check, dummy.
by Larry
Sep 19, 2008 7:01 PM
Here is another individual under the influence of alcohol - "buzzed" or "drunk", regardless, he was acting irresponsibly. It doesn't take much common sense to realize that jumping onto the field will have dire results. I applaud security and police.
by Jimmy
Sep 19, 2008 6:57 PM
what a surprsise since the red sox have won two world series for the first time in 90 years they finally decide to show up. All the Sawks fans decide to jump on the bacndwagon after not winning a world series in 86 years
by Jim
Sep 19, 2008 5:35 PM
How would people feel about the Taser if this buffoon all of a sudden pulled out a knife and stabbed someone. Rays don't need more cowbell, they need more Taser!!
by AL
Sep 19, 2008 5:34 PM
TO TONY: WILL SEE IF YOU BACK YOUR SOX WHEN THEY GO SUB PAR.
by MARGARET
Sep 19, 2008 5:33 PM
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE OF OFFICER JENNINGS HE IS TRYING TO TALK TO THIS NUT BUT AS THE PHOTOS CONTINUE YOU CAN SEE HE ISN'T LISTENING- GOOD JOB SPPD!!!
by John
Sep 19, 2008 5:31 PM
Between June 2001 & June 2007 there were a minimum of 245 Taser related Deaths. So for this so-called Law Enforcement officer to still be on the job ??. For all you that praise his actions I guess you think Murder is alright as long as a cop does it?
by RedSox Fan
Sep 19, 2008 5:25 PM
I was at that game! and was about 20 feet from this guy,a nd was heckling the rays right along with him. I didn't curse or have any drinks. I was the one who was getting cursed at by the Rays fans. I'm the ones who help keep your ball club open!
by KatinBos
Sep 19, 2008 5:24 PM
I just watched the news clip. This supposed Red Sox fan, from Sarasota, no Boston accent, no Sox shirt or hat?? He was just trying to get attention & what better way than to do that than root for the opposing team? He's a jerk.
by tommyduncn
Sep 19, 2008 4:44 PM
The guy is a tool.
by bUTCH
Sep 19, 2008 4:42 PM
Sounds like another wanna be shock jock like Bubba trying to make a name for himself. Let this fade into oblivion like it should and don't fuel it with the publicity.
by James
Sep 19, 2008 12:09 PM
Let's be honest, there are "jerks" that root for every team. Add liquor to the mix and it's dangerous. Folks should exercise some personal self control and common courtesy. If not - EJECT THEM! I take my family to a sporting event -- not a brawl.
by Senator
Sep 19, 2008 12:09 PM
Hey Ed, we've only been around for 10 years. Every fan we have could be considered a "band wagoner". Most of of come from other parts so we had to move our alliance. You can't compare our fans to Sox fans. Not from same era.
Subscribe to the Times
Click here for daily delivery
of the St. Petersburg Times.