Police: Fan who walked on PNC Park field says friend dared him to

Chris Adamski
Sunday, July 21, 2019 3:57 p.m. | Sunday, July 21, 2019 3:57 p.m.

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The Philadelphia Phillies’ Brad Miller backs away as a man walks toward him in the sixth inning against the Pirates on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Pittsburgh. The police took the man from the field and play continued.

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Home plate umpire Ben May looks at a man walking toward Pirates catcher Elias Diaz, and the Phillies’ Brad Miller as he comes to bat in the sixth inning Sunday, July 21, 2019, at PNC Park. The police took the man from the field, and play continued.

Police detain a man who walked across the field and approached Philadelphia Phillies’ Brad Miller as he came to bat in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Pittsburgh. The police took the man from the field and play continued.

Home plate umpire Ben May slowly made sure he stayed out of the individual’s path.

Philadelphia Phillies batter Brad Miller stood his ground until the casually walking fan got close enough to the batter’s box and extended his arm for a handshake Miller took a few hastened steps away in an obvious effort to avoid him.

A man in a security uniform slowly and deliberately pursued from behind in foul territory on the third-base side. Another slowly pursued from the opposite side, in front of the visiting dugout on the first-base side.

This man just casually walked onto the field at PNC Park, then approached Brad Miller. Seemed like he wanted to shake Miller's hand.

This was weird. pic.twitter.com/1W8RVGyJNv

— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) July 21, 2019

A palpable chatter among fans indicated something was up, but clearly no one was panicked by a man of unknown identity — likely a fan — who was walking on the field at PNC Park during the top of the sixth inning of a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Phillies on Sunday.

This guy just took a stroll across the field and got arrested ?? #pncpark #pirates #mlb pic.twitter.com/ZdmrVHrCeo

— Erin (@erinlmbrt) July 21, 2019

The man, wearing a blue-and-white Hawaiian shirt, jeans and sunglasses, leisurely strolled up to a security officer who was similarly casual in his purpose and gait. The man was cuffed in front of the Phillies dugout and escorted along the seating on the first-base side and up a concourse row.

A fan just strolls along the field and security did nothing. #RingTheBell #LetsGoBucs @pirates @phillies pic.twitter.com/3T6OUzouqt

— Mike (@ChaiMike26) July 21, 2019

Pittsburgh Police spokeswoman Cara Cruz identified him only as a 24-year-old man from Central Pennsylvania.

“The male told police he did it because a friend dared him to,” Cruz said in a statement.

He faces charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct.

He did not appear to be carrying any weapons. Metal detectors are at each entrance to the ballpark.

Fans cheered as the man was cuffed, and play resumed soon thereafter.

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.