INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Is it safe for fans to attend events at the multi-billion dollar SoFi Stadium?
As videos continue to circulate on social media of fights breaking out during and after NFL games at the home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, one fan is demanding accountability after he was tossed over the railing at a Chargers game against the Kansas City Chiefs held Nov. 20.
“He tossed me out like a piece of trash and walked away,” said Austin Willenbring to NBC4, He filed a police report at the Inglewood Police Department but there has been no comment from police chief Mark Fronterotta on the matter.
SoFi Stadium released the following statement.
“A physical altercation broke out between two parties following the conclusion of the Chargers v Chiefs game,” the statement said. “When the incident occurred, security and medical teams were immediately dispatched to the area. We are working with our security partners to look into the incident further.”
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., who acts as the defacto public information officer for the City, made comments to the effect that the man wasn’t “thrown” over the bridge, however, one social media user responded “…Butts you are such an idiot. get ur facts straight before commenting on the news…that poor man WAS thrown over the bridge at SoFi…get ur info before speaking.”
No comments attributed to Butts are in print on any of the major network’s social media coverage of the video.
Butts is in the midst of being reelected as the City’s mayor for an unprecedented fourth time. The County Registrar provided an update on election results with him in the lead with a little over 53% of the total votes cast in a field with five challengers opposing him.
In 2018, Butts was reelected with more than 60% of the votes in a sign that his popularity amongst the populace is declining largely in part due to the stadium and the number of resources being placed towards the stadium instead of the residents and small businesses.
The City has allocated over $15 million of taxpayer funds towards law enforcement services directly tied to the entertainment and sports venues since July 2021.
Willenbring says he has nearly $10,000 in medical bills after the fall left him with four fractured ribs and a busted lip. He filed his police report with IPD today.
“I know it’s not going to be a quick process but I do want to have justice served on my part,” he said.
Hollywood Park, where SoFi Stadium is located, is scheduled to host the 2023 College Football Playoffs in January, Rolling Loud in March, and the opening ceremonies of the 2028 Olympics.
1 Comment
BUTTS has serious credibility issues !
Is the public supposed to believe that this man asked someone to grab him from his backside and lift him over the rail in anticipation of a soft pillow landing on the concrete steps below? Yes it takes a while for the video to load but take a moment or to and ask yourself in what universe that was not being thrown!!!!!
Who does that? As Butts is so famous for asking. Would you say the sweet school marm attempting to protect the victim from fans walking to the exit?
From declaring that City Ciuncil meetings are copyrighted to his declaration that he did not tell one council critic to “Go choke yourself” followed by his having the video edited so as “to prove” he was not guilty of using the words that came out of his mouth . One thing is certain – Butts has a complete misunderstanding of truth and what he wants the public to believe!!!
Just as he chooses to sweep the bad behavior of a football fan under the carpet by his discounting the victim’s statement, James Butts’ need to protect the image of his pet project (The Stadium), much of what is appears in the glossy city publications are embellishments or out and out falsehoods!
Given we can all see the video doesn’t it make you wonder what else James Butts feels comfortable lying about ?
Let’s make term limits a priority!,