The esteemed baseball Hall-of-Famer and Cincinnati Reds icon is widely hailed as the premier catcher in Major League Baseball history.
When Bench acknowledges a commendable feat, it carries weight. This sentiment was conveyed to the Cincinnati police officer who utilized a Taser to restrain a Reds supporter, William Hendon, 19, of Cleves, who dashed onto the field during Tuesday’s match against the Cleveland Guardians.
— Johnny Bench (@JohnnyBench_5) June 12, 2024
“Great catch, Cincinnati’s Finest!,” Bench inscribed on a photo before sharing it on his Twitter account Wednesday evening.
Hendon, clad in a Johnny Bench Reds jersey, was apprehended while attempting to interact with a Guardians outfielder, sprinting from the stadium’s third base side.
Despite executing an impressive backflip as officers closed in, he was unable to evade the Taser’s reach, resulting in his handcuffing.
Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge William Mallory commended Hendon’s acrobatics during his court appearance Wednesday morning, still donning his Bench jersey. Mallory noted that while Hendon may have briefly garnered attention, he is now banned from Great American Ball Park.
Hendon pleaded not guilty to charges arising from the incident and is slated for a pre-trial hearing on July 3.
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