- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Another fan has been arrested for throwing a sex toy at a WNBA game as the disturbing epidemic continues.
Kaden Lopez, 18, was booked into jail on suspicion of disorderly conduct, assault and public display of explicit sexual material following the game between the Mercury and Sun on Tuesday, Fox 10 Phoenix has reported.
While the toy did not reach the court, it allegedly hit an adult male victim who was attending the game with his nine-year-old niece, according to a court document.
The moment of Lopez throwing the object, described as a ‘green dildo’, was captured on video, and the teen was tackled by an arena volunteer before being detained by police.
Lopez allegedly apologized for the act, saying it was ‘stupid prank that was trending on social media.’ It is also alleged in court documents that he bought the toy on Monday – just one day before the game.
Nonetheless, it is said that the man who was hit by the toy ‘desires prosecution.’
18-year-old Kaden Lopez was arrested for throwing a sex toy at a WNBA game on Tuesday. The object did not reach the court, but it did hit a fan in the stands.
Last week, another spectator threw a sex toy onto the court at the Dream-Valkyries game
Sex toys have now been thrown on WNBA courts at least five times this season, as Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham was also hit by one in a separate incident on Tuesday.
Cunningham had previously spoken out about the trend online, writing: ‘stop throwing dildos on the court… you’re going to hurt one of us.’
Lopez’s arrest comes after Georgia man Delbert Carver, 23, was charged with disorderly conduct, public indecency/indecent exposure, and criminal trespass for his actions at two Atlanta Dream games.
Police said that Carver was arrested after throwing a sex toy onto the court during the Dream’s win over the visiting Mercury on Friday.
Carver also allegedly confessed to police that he was involved in a similar incident in Atlanta’s July 29 loss to the visiting Golden State Valkyries – a shocking moment that went viral last week.
Carver was released from Clayton County Jail in Jonesboro on Sunday, according to public records.
The Dream did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Daily Mail, while the Valkyries declined comment.
However, the WNBA did speak out following Carver’s arrest over the weekend.
‘The safety and well-being of everyone in our arenas is a top priority for our league,’ read the statement. ‘Objects of any kind thrown onto the court or in the seating area can pose a safety risk for players, game officials, and fans.
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham was also hit by a sex toy in a separate incident on Tuesday
Another WNBA game in Chicago was halted after a sex toy was thrown onto the court Friday
‘In line with WNBA Arena Security Standards, any fan who intentionally throws an object onto the court will be immediately ejected and face a minimum one-year ban in addition to being subject to arrest and prosecution by local authorities.’
Carver’s actions were followed by similar situations at another Valkyries road game on Friday against the Chicago Sky, before Cunningham was hit by an erotic projectile tossed onto the court by a spectator in LA on Tuesday.
In a statement provided to the Daily Mail, the Sparks said: ‘Incidents of this nature are taken seriously, as they pose a risk to players, officials, and others on the court. We are working with arena personnel to identify the individual responsible and ensure appropriate action is taken.
‘Fan conduct that disrupts the game or compromises the safety of anyone in the arena will not be tolerated.’
Chicago police, meanwhile, told ESPN that the department has no record of any calling to make a complaint, meaning it’s unlikely any arrests will be made in that case.
‘It’s super disrespectful,’ Sky center Elizabeth Williams told reporters Friday. ‘I don’t really get the point of it. It’s really immature. Whoever is doing it needs to grow up.’
