Philadelphia Flyers Mascot Gritty
Under Investigation for Assault Police in Philadelphia are reportedly
investigating an assault accusation against
Gritty, the official mascot of the Flyers, the
city’s National Hockey League team. Gritty is being accused of
punching a 13-year-old boy in
2019 during a photo opportunity
for season ticket holders. The boy is said to have patted Gritty on the head before
walking away which prompted the mascot to take a
“running start” and punch the boy “as hard as he could.” According to the boy’s father, Chris Greenwell,
the punch caused a “contusion” to his son’s “lower
thoracic spine,” otherwise known as a bruise. Greenwell initially attempted to handle the situation
directly with the Flyers, asking the team to apologize
and do “something special” for his son. However, his communication with the
team allegedly “went south,” prompting
him to file an official police complaint. The Flyers have since denied any wrongdoing
by Gritty, saying they found “nothing to
support [Greenwell’s] claim.” Flyers spokesperson, to
‘The Philadelphia Inquirer’