Boy tackled by security guard at Tampa Bay-Atlanta game after running onto field

TAMPA, Fla. — A boy who ran onto the field during Sunday’s NFL football game between the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons was tackled hard by a security guard at Raymond James Stadium, The Associated Press reported.

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A woman who identified herself as the child’s mother told the news organization that the boy is 10 years old. A Tampa Police Department officer later told the AP that the juvenile was older than 10, but was unable to release his information because he was underage.

The officer said the woman has several children and was confused about which one jumped onto the playing surface, the news organization reported.

The incident occurred while the Buccaneers were lining up for an extra point after Leonard Fournette’s 1-yard touchdown run gave Tampa Bay a 6-0 lead in the second quarter.

Tampa Police Department spokesperson Lt. Abe Carmack told the AP there was “an incident involving a juvenile” during the game, but said no arrest was made.

Eddy Durkin, another spokesperson with the Tampa Police Department, told the Tampa Bay Times that the child received a civil citation for the Juvenile Arrest Avoidance Program. A Florida statute gives law enforcement agencies the authority to issue a citation to youths between the ages of 8 and 17 instead of making an arrest.

“So he has to meet certain criteria and everything,” Durkin told the Times. “It goes to the State Attorney, and they review it to see what happens there.”

The incident comes after a man was tackled by Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner after running onto the field during Monday night’s NFL game between Los Angeles and the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, ESPN reported. The man filed a police report against Wagner.

The man, who ran across the field just before halftime with what appeared to be a device emitting pink smoke, was thrown to the turf by Wagner and teammate Takkarist McKinley.

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