Denver police are investigating the tackling of Colorado Rockies baseball mascot Dinger, who was interrupted while dancing this week during a Coors Field home game against the St. Louis Cardinals, as an assault.
A fuzzy purple triceratops with a bright yellow beak, Dinger was dancing Monday atop the Rockies’ dugout for the crowd when a man behind the dugout darted out from the bleachers and took down the mascot.
“We’re working with the Rockies to try to identify the individual who was involved,” Denver Police spokesman Doug Schepman said Thursday. “We’re looking at all the available evidence.”
The Rockies employee inside the dinosaur costume was not seriously injured. Police said that employee, who was not identified, was evaluated by medical personnel.
Video images of the tackle were circulating this week and Dinger appeared undaunted after the tackle. The attacker, who wore a blue jacket, “has not been identified or arrested,” Schepman said.
It was the first tackle of this sort police could recall, he said. “It is out of the ordinary.”