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Backflipping fan on field brought down by stun gun at Cincinnati Reds game

The field invader appeared to chat briefly with Cleveland Guardians center fielder Tyler Freeman before he was zapped at Great American Ball Park.
Image: Cleveland Guardians v Cincinnati Reds
A man is hit with a stun gun by a police officer Tuesday as he runs on the field before the ninth inning of the Cincinnati Reds' game against the Cleveland Guardians at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.Andy Lyons / Getty Images

A field-invading baseball fan did a backflip at a Cincinnati Reds game Tuesday night before he was brought down by stun gun-wielding police, authorities said.

The unauthorized fan in an old-school No. 5 Johnny Bench pullover didn't immediately run when police approached him in the ninth inning at Great American Ballpark.

Image: Cleveland Guardians v Cincinnati Reds
The man does a flip on the field Tuesday.Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Instead, William Hendon, 19, did an acrobatic backflip before he tried to take off. Hendon sprinted only a couple of feet before he was unceremoniously brought down by high voltage."A fan ran onto the playing field during the game and ran from police when officers attempted to stop him to prevent further disruption to the game or safety risks to players and ballpark staff," Cincinnati Police Lt. Jonathan Cunningham said in a statement. "This individual was tased by the officer in order to detain him."

Hendon was booked on suspicion of obstruction of official business and criminal trespassing.

He appeared before Municipal Court Judge William Mallory on Wednesday still wearing that road gray Bench jersey.

Mallory casually asked, “Everybody thinks you landed that backflip,” according to a court officer.

"I'm pretty sure I did,” Hendon responded.

Messages left by NBC News for Hendon, his attorney and family members were not immediately returned Wednesday.

The Guardians won the game against their in-state rivals, 5-3.