While the Washington Nationals have punched their ticket to the World Series, the Houston Astros and New York Yankees are during it out for the second time in three years int he ALCS. The series has swung two games to one in the Astros favor, but the tensions have been running high for years now.
The tension came to a boil in the crowd as an Astros season ticket holder attacked a Yankees fan during game two of the ALCS. James Warren Dinkins, nicknamed “The Judge,” has allegedly been known to argue with fellow Astros fans. He has since been charged with assault causing bodily injury, according to ABC News’ Houston station KTRK.
Lee Menchaca, who watched the incident unfold in the ninth inning of Sunday’s game in Houston. He watched the victim, Manuel Bitolas, get assaulted by Dinkins as they were arguing.
“[Dinkins] reached back and slammed him on the face, five times, like repeated five-time slap,” said Menchaca. “He’s a big guy with long arms, so he just reached back and slapped him on the face.”
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Menchaca said that she has seen Dinkins at Minute Maid Park previously.
“It gets old. Like every time someone cheers, whether it’s for the Astros or against the Astros, I get nervous,” said Menchaca. “I don’t know if this guy was going to react. It makes it unenjoyable for everyone around him.”
Bitolas was attending the game with his mother and cheered for the Yankees when him and Dinkins exchanged some words. What Bitolas thought was all in good fun turned out to be much mroe toxic than he expected.
“I told him something and patted his shoulder and he said, ‘Don’t f-ing touch me,” Bitolas told KTRK over the phone. “I bent over to get my drink and he like hit me. And I was kind of surprised about it.”
When asked what through his mind when Dinkins began assaulting him, Bitolas said, “He’s an old man so I can’t really do much.”
The assault was captured on ballpark surveillance cameras, according to Nathan Beedle, Chief of Misdemeanor for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The incident was reported by Bitolas and his mother who eventually questioned and arrested Dinkins.
According to court records obtained by ABC News, Dinkins was released on a $100 bond in the case.
The winner will take on the Washington Nationals in the World Series beginning on Oct. 22.
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