Chicago Tribune logo
The Guardian logo
New York Daily News logo
4 articles
·1M

Ohio Man Arrested for Throwing Sex Toy at WNBA Game Amidst League-Wide Incidents

An Ohio man was arrested and charged after throwing a sex toy at a WNBA game, hitting a 12-year-old girl. This incident follows multiple similar disturbances at games, prompting league warnings.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

  • Charles Burgess, 32, from Dayton, Ohio, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault for throwing a sex toy at a New York Liberty WNBA game, hitting a 12-year-old girl.
  • Surveillance video reportedly captured Burgess throwing the object onto the court, leading to his arrest and the subsequent charges for causing a disturbance and injury.
  • This incident is part of a pattern of sex toys being thrown at WNBA games in late July and early August across various cities, resulting in multiple arrests.
  • League officials have issued strict warnings, stating that individuals throwing objects onto the court will be ejected and permanently banned from attending games.
  • Some individuals arrested for these disturbances, including one in Georgia, claimed their actions were a prank intended to gain viral attention on social media platforms.
Written by AI using shared reports from
4 articles
.

Report issue

Pano Newsletter

Read both sides in 5 minutes each day

Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by presenting a factual account of multiple incidents involving objects thrown at WNBA games. They focus on reporting the arrests, charges, and legal proceedings for each individual, including details from police, court documents, and defense attorneys, without apparent editorial bias or loaded language.

"An Ohio man was arrested for throwing a sex toy at a WNBA game in New York, police said Thursday."

Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
·1M
Limited access — this outlet restricts by article count and/or content type.
Article

"An Ohio man was arrested for the throwing of a sex toy at a WNBA game in New York, police said Thursday."

Associated PressAssociated Press
·1M
Article

Articles (4)

Compare how different news outlets are covering this story.

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

The WNBA has introduced stricter measures including immediate suspensions and a minimum one-year ban for anyone caught throwing objects onto the court, enhanced security checks at arenas, stricter rules on items allowed inside, and increased surveillance to protect players and maintain a respectful environment.

A crypto group has claimed responsibility for orchestrating some of the sex toy throwing incidents as part of a social media publicity stunt linked to promoting a meme coin.

Players have expressed anger and frustration, with some responding humorously on social media, while coaches have called the acts ridiculous, dangerous, and disrespectful to the professionalism of the sport.

Some individuals arrested stated their actions were pranks meant to gain viral attention on social media platforms rather than acts driven by misogyny.

The league and players view the throwing of sex toys as sexist and degrading acts that undermine the dignity of female athletes and symbolize disrespect towards women and their professional sports achievements.

History

See how this story has evolved over time.

  • This story does not have any previous versions.