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Masked grad runs on turf, into trouble

The former Crystal River High soccer player is arrested after a prank during a game.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE and BRIAN SUMERS
Published November 16, 2005

CRYSTAL RIVER - It wasn't a halftime show with cheerleaders, but Monday's Crystal River High School soccer game had some unusual entertainment.

Deputies say the game was interrupted when a former player and school graduate, Christian Wayne Bell, darted across the field wearing only an "evil gray pig" mask and pink thong.

"I didn't even see it until he was off the field," said Crystal River coach Steve Ekeli. "The only thing I saw was his buttocks as he scampered up the fence. I'm just glad no one laid into him on the field."

Bell, 19, of 4274 S Alabama Ave. was arrested on a charge of trespassing on school grounds, according to an arrest report.

Citrus sheriff's Deputy Ronald Frink was providing security for the game. He said he saw a man run across the field about 8:30 p.m.

"Really, what it looked like was a naked pig running across the field," sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Tierney said Frink told her.

The man ran from the south end of the field to the north, then hopped a fence, the deputy said. Frink caught him in the parking lot.

Frink took the mask into evidence, but he didn't confiscate the thong, Tierney said.

For years, soccer players have joked about such a prank, Tierney said.

"Apparently, he took it upon himself to do it," she said.

Bell's parents were in the stands, watching the game, she said.

"They were just mortified," she said.

Bell is a really good kid, but he made a poor choice, Frink said.

"It seems like over the years the pranks have become more commonplace," Frink said. "Even when they do things with fun in mind, they need to understand there are consequences. You get good kids that make poor choices."

Bell was taken to the Citrus County jail. Bail was set at $250.

In other law enforcement news:

Deputies arrested a 19-year-old Hernando man after authorities say he stole diving equipment from the residence of a friend's father while the man was on vacation and pawned it, according to an arrest report.

Steven M. Richardson Jr. of 6800 Big Horn Point was arrested at 5:09 p.m. Monday on charges of unarmed burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft from $300 to $5,000, dealing in stolen property and falsifying ownership in a pawn ticket, according to an arrest report.

Deputies say Richardson and a friend, who is a minor, went to the home after they found out the father was out of town.

They took diving equipment from a shed and sold it at a pawnshop in Crystal River, deputies say.

Richardson told deputies he had taken the equipment and that he knew it was wrong, deputies say. Deputies say he told them he needed money.

He was taken to the Citrus County jail. Bail was set at $19,000.

A Homosassa woman was arrested Monday evening after authorities say she stole bags of clothes from a Beall's department store in Inverness.

Faith M. Bergman, 27, of 5169 W Rochelle St., was arrested at 6:55 p.m. on a charge of retail theft over $300, according to an arrest report.

Deputies say she took $391.99 in clothes, including three pairs of pants, one sweat suit, three shirts and a three-piece jumpsuit, from the store in two bags, according to the report. She told deputies she stole the items because she wanted to give them as Christmas presents, according to the report.

She was taken to the Citrus County jail. Bail was set at $2,000.

Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 860-7312 or vansickle@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 16, 2005, 01:09:18]