UPDATED: The Flyers released a statement, saying to NBC Sports Philadelphia: “We took Mr. Greenwell’s allegations seriously and conducted a thorough investigation that found nothing to support this claim.”
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The Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty is under investigation for allegedly assaulting a minor during a meet-and-greet event in November.
Chris Greenwell and his 13-year-old son were invited to the event for season ticket holders when the mascot punched the teen in the back, the father said. Greenwell said his son, Brandon, patted Gritty on the head after taking the photo and, as the teen walked away, Gritty “took a running start” and “punched my son as hard as he could.”
Greenwell took his son to a chiropractor about a week after the incident and said his son was diagnosed with a “contusion to lower thoracic spine with subluxation,” suffering from mild pain.
There is no footage of the incident because the “cameras in that area of the center are focused on other locations,” officials at Comcast Spectacor, the group that owns the team, told Greenwell. The parent group said they conducted an investigation that included interviews with the person playing Gritty and the mascot’s handler but could not verify the claims.
Greenwell, who has since announced he is forgoing his season tickets after 22 years, reported the incident to the Philadelphia Police Department. A representative for the department described the case as an allegation of a “physical assault” that took place “during a photo shoot with a 13-year-old white male and Flyers mascot Gritty,” adding that “the investigation is active and ongoing.”
Greenwell, who hasn’t hired a lawyer, said all he wants is an apology and something special for his son.
The police department confirmed that this was the only investigation into the mascot.
