NASCAR: Drunk Fan In Stewart Altercation Is Police Officer
The drunk fan that shoved three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart was an off-duty police officer.
Friday night three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart was involved in an altercation at the Chili Bowl with a drunken fan. The fan was apparently heckling Stewart (and according to many in attendance crossed a line) who then went over to the fan to address his comments and behavior. Multiple reports say that the man shoved Stewart, the altercation can be seen in the videos below.
At the time of the incident it was assumed that the man was nothing more than an anti-Stewart fan that clearly had too much to drink.
However there now appears to be more to it than that, in the aftermath of the confrontation the Tulsa World has confirmed that the man in the video is a member of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. The Tulsa World identified the man as Cpl. Kyle Hess, who was off duty during the incident. Deputy Justin Green of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Hess’ identity and also confirmed that there is currently an investigation being conducted in regards to his conduct.
While speaking with the Tulsa World Green said that “We’re all held to a higher standard, even off duty.” Green also stated that it’s too early in the investigation to speculate whether or not there would be any consequences for Hess.
Tulsa Deputy Police Chief and Expo Square Liaison officer Dennis Larson was on hand for the incident, he spoke with the Tulsa World about what he witnessed.
"We had a race fan that probably had too much beer from my observations after speaking with him. He kept taunting Tony Stewart as Tony would pass by. Tony came up to the stands and decided to have a discussion with him on why he did not like him. From what I was told Tony stated to him (the spectator), ‘What’s your problem with me’.” At some point their hands were locked together. The fan pushed toward Tony, Tony stepped back and a security guard basically stepped between the two and just made a motion and the fan, who had consumed a lot of alcohol, sat down."
The incident between Stewart and Hess is one of many examples that occur on a weekly basis where fans feel they have the right to cross the proverbial line. While it’s understood that an athlete in the public eye will have to deal with more stuff than someone who works a 9-5 desk job, it doesn’t give fans or non-fans the right to act the way that this officer did.
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Mr. Hess was out of line and being under the influence of alcohol is not an excuse. One can only hope that the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office will treat this as seriously as it should be and that some form of punishment will be handed out.