UNL police say fan tried to steal game ball
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
By the Lincoln Journal Star
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police recovered a stolen football during Saturday’s Nebraska-Missouri game at Memorial Stadium.
When football players kick a football through the goal posts for an extra point or a field goal, people in the stands generally throw the ball back onto the field, said said UNL Police Capt. Carl Oestmann.
But a Dell Rapids, S.D. man allegedly tried to leave with a Missouri game day football that was kicked through the south end zone goal posts around 9:27 p.m., Oestmann said.
Witnesses allegedly saw Andrew Siemonsma, 24, put the football under his shirt and start to leave from section 16 of the south stadium, Oestmann said.
A short time later officers caught up with Siemonsma near gate 24 and recovered the football, Oestmann said.
Police were able to return the ball to Missouri before the team left, Oestmann said, adding it was the first time in his recent memory someone had tried to steal a game ball.
Siemonsma, who was cited on suspicion of theft and ejected from the game, was wearing a black shirt and a white cap, Oestmann said. It’s unclear whether he was a fan of Nebraska or Missouri.
Publishing opinions about the guilt, innocence or character of the accused in open criminal cases can affect that person's constitutional right to a fair trial. For that reason, JournalStar.com has chosen not to accept user comments on this story.