The Common Arrests at Lucas Oil Stadium

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Posted in On September 6, 2013

Understanding the Most Common Arrests at Lucas Oil Stadium

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One of best things to do during the fall season in Indianapolis is to go to Lucas Oil Stadium during NFL season and watch the Colts play (and ignore those Chicago Bears fans that would argue to the contrary). Whether you are a sports fan or not, there’s something magical about being in that stadium with your family and friends listening to the roar of the crowd as Andrew Luck marches the team down the field to score a touchdown.
It’s during those times of watching the Colts in the heat of battle that patrons indulge in behavior they wouldn’t necessarily exhibit while sitting in church (or in their living rooms for that matter!). Too often sports fans find themselves enjoying alcohol to the extreme and/or engaging in aggressive behavior towards the opposing fans in the stands (or both!). As much as we’d like to reign it in, sometimes our conduct gets out of control, and we make poor decisions — then, predictably, security shows up, followed by the police, followed shortly there after with an ejection from the game and criminal charges being filed.
Before you find yourself in that situation, this blog is intended to inform you of the most common arrests at Lucas Oil Stadium and what the possible penalties are. That way, you can do your best to avoid them — but, if you can’t or didn’t, and you find yourself arrested, give the Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorneys at Banks & Brower a call today to discuss how we can help you.
COMMON ARRESTS: (Click here to read a blog about the levels of crimes)

  1. Public Intoxication: I.C. 7.1-5 – By far, this is the most common arrest at a sporting event. The current law in Indiana states that the State must prove that you are intoxicated and in a public place (which Lucas Oil qualifies), and that you were: (1) endangering your life; (2) endangering the life of another person;(3) breaching the peace or (4) harassing, annoying or alarming another person.  This crime is a Class B misdemeanor, meaning you can serve a maximum of 180 days in jail.
  2. Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor: I.C. 7.1-5-7 –  if you are caught “recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally” selling, bartering, exchanging, or providing alcohol to a minor, you can be charged with a Class B Misdemeanor.  (So keep the beer to yourself!)
  3. Disorderly Conduct: I.C. 35-45 –  if the State can prove that you “recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally”: (1) engaged in fighting or conduct that could lead to serious bodily injury to another, (2) made unreasonable noise and continued to do so after being told to stop, or (3) disrupted a lawful assembly of persons (i.e. if you disrupted the game or other fans at the game), you can be charged with a Class B Misdemeanor
  4. Trespass: I.C. 35-43-2 – If you decide to jump onto the field during the middle of the game (which I don’t recommend, but gets a huge laugh) or wonder into an area of the arena you aren’t allowed to be in, the State can charge you with trespass a Class A Misdemeanor, which has a potential penalty of 365 days in jail. The statute says that if you are somewhere where you don’t have a contractual interest to be, after having been told not to be there or refused to leave when told, you can be charged for trespass as a result.
  5. Fighting Other Patrons: I.C. 35-42-2
  • Battery Without Injury: If you physically assault someone, either knowingly or intentionally, in a rude, insolent, or angry manner, you can be charged with a Class B Misdemeanor — assuming there was no injury from the assault.
  • Battery With Injury: If you physically assault someone, either knowingly or intentionally, and it cause an injury to that person (be it pain, swelling, bruising, scratches, etc.), you can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor.
  • Battery on Someone 14-Years Old or Younger: Before you go fighting someone you think may be of age, be careful — they may be someone under 14 years old, and you can be charged with a Level 6-Felony (a potential of 6 months days to 2.5 years in jail) if caught.

6.  Resisting Officers/Security Personnel: I.C. 35-44.1-3

  • Physical/Forcible Resist: If the police/security make contact with you, and you “forcibly resist, obstruct, or interfere” with their investigation or during your arrest, you can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor.
  • Fleeing Arrest: If the police/security attempt to speak with you and you run form “after being told to stop by visible or audible means,” you can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor.

This list is by no means an all-inclusive one, but rather it is meant as an educational tool for what makes up the most arrests at Lucas Oil Stadium. If you find yourself facing criminal charges after watching the Colts whoop up on their opponents, give the experienced litigators at Banks & Brower a call today. As former prosecutors, the Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorneys at Banks & Brower can fight to defend your rights. Call us at 317.870.0019 or email us at info@banksbrower.com. We are available 24/7, 365.