A White Sox fan is throwing a curveball at the ball club over a brawl.
Rubin Lopez, a Cook County sheriff's correctional officer, is suing the Sox and its security team, including an off-duty Chicago police officer identified as Jorge Flores, for malicious prosecution and battery, the Sun-Times reports.
The South Sider attended the Crosstown Classic at U.S. Cellular Field in June 2009 and witnessed an unruly Sox fan toss a plastic beer bottle over the upper deck. Security arrived and picked up a fan wearing Cubs gear instead of Sox. Lopez told them they got the wrong guy.
"I was sticking up for a Cubs fan, even though I'm a Sox fan," Lopez said. "I was trying to do the right thing."
Lopez tried to share some camaraderie telling officers he was an off-duty Cook County Sheriff's correctional officer. That flared up the rivalry between the Cook County Sheriff's Department and the Chicago Police Department.
"[The officer] said to me to mind my own business," he said. "So I said 'fine, do what you guys go to do."
Chicago police claimed Lopez pushed a security officer over a chair while he was trying to restore order.
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He said a videotape proves the security officer was the aggressor, shoving him and causing him to be tossed into a holding cell at the Cell. Battery charges were dropped in December.
But the four-year veteran said the incident and ensuing investigation sullied his reputation and caused him to be passed over for promotion opportunities.
The White Sox and Chicago police declined commenting.
Lopez hasn't slapped a price tag on his suit.
Maybe Sox season tickets could help end this legal fight.
