Philadelphia detectives are investigating a complaint made by a Flyers season-ticket holder who alleges that his 13-year-old son was punched in the back by team mascot Gritty, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Chris Greenwell claims that Gritty reacted aggressively after his son Brandon “playfully patted the mascot on the head” at a photoshoot in November for season-ticket holders.
As Brandon walked away, Gritty got out of his chair, “took a running start,” and “punched my son as hard as he could,” Greenwell said Wednesday.
Greenwell told the Inquirer that he took his son to a chiropractor a week after the incident, and Brandon was diagnosed with a back bruise.
Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers, told the Inquirer that an investigation into the claim has been conducted but the company was unable to verify the complaint.
Dave Isaac, the Flyers beat reporter for the Courier-Post, shared the following statement from the team regarding the allegations.
According to the Inquirer, Greenwell lodged a complaint with police on Dec. 21 after he and Comcast Spectacor were unable to come to an agreement on how to mend fences.
Police say “the investigation is active and on-going.”