Man charged after beer can thrown onto court during Celtics game

Associated Press
Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 4:26 p.m. | Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 4:26 p.m.

Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker watches as referee Evan Scott charges him with a technical foul during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 in Boston.

BOSTON — A man was arrested and escorted out of the arena after throwing a can of hard seltzer onto the court near the San Antonio Spurs bench during Wednesday night’s game with the Boston Celtics, Boston police said Thursday.

Justin Arnold, 22, of Everett, was charged with disturbing a public assembly.

He was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty Thursday but was held without bail because of an alleged probation violation in an unrelated assault case.

NEW: @bostonpolice tell @7News 22yo Justin Arnold of Everett was the @celtics fan arrested/charged w/ disturbing a public assembly. It happened last night @tdgarden after he threw a can of beer toward the San Antonio Spurs bench after Kemba Walker was ejected from the game. pic.twitter.com/d0mVWXNFvz

— Amaka Ubaka (@AmakaUbakaTV) January 9, 2020

Arnold appeared to be intoxicated, police said in a statement.

The 20-ounce can thrown from the balcony landed on the court and sprayed all over the floor “when the crowd started to scrutinize the refs for what appeared to be a terrible call against the Celtics,” police said. The can missed a Spurs player by just a few inches, police said.

A not guilty plea was entered for Justin Arnold in Boston Municipal Court. He was arrested for allegedly throwing a can onto the court during last night's Celtics game. Following his arraignment he was arrested for a probation violation out of Malden District Court @wbz pic.twitter.com/fT1vtGTchz

— Mike LaCrosse (@MikeLaCrosseWBZ) January 9, 2020

The can was thrown as Celtics guard Kemba Walker argued with a referee.

Arnold apologized in a call to an iHeart Radio station in Boston, saying he was angry with the call and was not thinking. He said he did not have any disrespect for the Spurs organization.

The #Celtics fan that was arrested after throwing a drink onto the court last night called into @ashleeintheam ?? Check out the full audio: https://t.co/4LLFV6T0Gc pic.twitter.com/HgxC4uJdu9

— JAM'N 94.5 (@JAMN945) January 9, 2020

Arnold was arrested after police reviewed surveillance video and talked to witnesses.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he apologized to the Spurs after the game.