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Man Charged with Punching Horse, Officer Before NFC Championship Game

Photo: Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media via AP
A fan is taken into custody after violence erupted in Parking Lot M as Philadelphia Police and Pennsylvania State Troopers on horseback tried to disperse fans who were tailgating hours before the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia.

January 22, 2018 03:27 PM

Philadelphia police say a man is accused of punching a police horse and a mounted officer during an arrest before the NFC championship game.

Police say a mounted state police corporal was trying to disperse a crowd in a stadium parking lot at about 3:15 p.m. Sunday when a man struck the horse twice in the shoulder, then hit the corporal in the face.

Police say 19-year-old Andrew Tornetta is being charged with aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangering and related offenses. He didn't immediately return a call seeking comment. It's unclear whether he has an attorney.

Police report few arrests amid the Eagles' 38-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings, which sends Philadelphia's team to its first Super Bowl game since 2005. The will play the New England Patriots.

It's not the first time a fan has been charged with punching a horse in Philadelphia, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. In fact, it's not the first time this month. The newspaper reports that a fan who was kicked out of the divisional round playoff on Jan. 13 allegedly punched a horse in the face and neck on the way out.