Animal-rights protester who ran onto field files police report against LA Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner who clobbered him; lawyer says protester may have case

The animal-rights protester who ran onto the playing field during a Monday Night Football game this week filed a police report against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner, who famously clobbered the protester and sent him to the turf, ESPN reported.

What's more, an attorney said the protester may have a case.

What are the details?

Santa Clara Police Department Lt. Cuong Phan said the police report was filed Tuesday afternoon and that information will be limited since it's an active investigation, ESPN reported.

ESPN, citing TMZ Sports, added that individual who filed the report is an activist for the Berkeley, California-based animal-rights group Direct Action Everywhere and was trying to "raise awareness for a trial involving the alleged theft of pigs from a factory farm."

Direction Action Everywhere identified the protester in question as Alex Taylor.

What's the background?

During the second quarter of Monday night's game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California — the home field of the San Francisco 49ers — Taylor ran onto the field with a device emitting pink smoke and successfully evaded security personnel, one of whom slipped and fell in the process.

As Taylor skirted near the Rams' sideline, Wagner emerged and put a full-speed lick on the woke demonstrator, who immediately collapsed to the turf. Fellow Rams linebacker Takkarist McKinley also closed in on Taylor, ESPN said — but it was Wagner who made the big hit.

Here's a look at it from a few angles — it's safe to say onlookers were pleased:

Bobby Wagner tackles fan on the field (fan angles)youtu.be

In a now-deleted tweet, Direct Action Everywhere posted a photo of Taylor following the incident holding a police citation and saying he had a burn on his arm.

What did Wagner have to say?

Wagner said Wednesday he knows about the police report but has larger concerns on his mind, ESPN reported.

"Can't really focus on it," Wagner said, according to the sports network. "I'm more concerned about the security guard that was hurt trying to chase him. ... You just got to do what you got to do."

Wagner repeated Wednesday his concern that players never know what trespassers on the field have in their hands or pockets, ESPN said.

"There's consequences for your actions," Wagner added, according the sports network.

Rams coach Sean McVay has Taylor's back, ESPN said: "I think that we all know where Bobby's intentions were ... and I support Bobby Wagner. That's where I'm at with that. I don't think anybody will disagree."

Attorney says protester may have a case

Los Angeles personal injury attorney Rony Barsoum told KTTV-TV the protester may have a case against Taylor under California law.

"You have to provide a reasonable amount of safety, even for trespassers," Barsoum told the station, adding that if "someone trespasses on your premises" and gets injured by "something dangerous on your premises ... that can be a claim, even though he was trespassing. So you do owe a duty of safety, even to trespassers."

Barsoum added to KTTV that the protester can claim that Wagner "didn't need to tackle him" and that "security was gonna get him" and Wagner "didn't have to hit him that hard." The station also pointed out that Wagner can claim he feared for his and others' safety and was therefore justified in knocking the protester down.

Protester trucked by Rams' Bobby Wagner on MNF files police reportyoutu.be