An Ohio man was arrested this week after allegedly throwing a sex toy during a WNBA game at Barclays Center earlier this month, striking a young spectator, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Police said Charles Burgess, 32, of Dayton, Ohio, turned himself in Wednesday morning at Brooklyn’s 78th Precinct, which has jurisdiction over the arena.
BREAKING: An Ohio man named Charles Burgess has been charged with with two counts of assault in a green dildo-related incident at a New York Liberty game in early August.
Burgess turned himself in after allegedly throwing the sex toy towards the court. It did not reach the court… pic.twitter.com/o18n1Hxsy1 [2]
— TMSPN.com (@sportsgossip) August 21, 2025 [3]
According to authorities, Burgess hurled a lime green sex toy from the stands during the New York Liberty’s matchup against the Dallas Wings on August 5 at around 8:45 p.m.
The object struck a 12-year-old girl in the leg, police confirmed. Burgess was subsequently charged with two counts of assault.
Court records show that Burgess, who does not have prior arrests in New York City, was released under non-monetary conditions following his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court later that day.
The NYPD had previously circulated a photo of the suspect, which showed a man with tattooed arms, wearing a red and black hat, black shorts, and a T-shirt featuring the characters Beavis and Butthead.
Witnesses in the section where the incident occurred described the reaction after the object landed. “The object was thrown from someone much higher up but definitely in the same section,” one fan who was seated in section 116 told The New York Post.
“When it landed, the girl started screaming/freaking out (understandably) for like 30 [seconds] and got the attention of most people within the surrounding rows.”
Barclays Center staff quickly removed the object, and the game resumed without further incident. The Liberty went on to defeat the Wings 85-76.
The bizarre case is part of a recent series of disruptions at WNBA games involving fans throwing sex toys onto the court.
Sophie Cunningham on the green dildos of the WNBA! pic.twitter.com/5SKyQVGmDp [4]
— Just Jen R (@JustJenRX) August 7, 2025 [5]
Sophie Cunningham just got hit with a green dildo after posting this a few days ago pic.twitter.com/RRJpvv2CaD [6]
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) August 6, 2025 [7]
On the same day as the Liberty game, Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham was hit directly by a green object during her team’s contest against the Los Angeles Sparks.
A third green dildo has been thrown at a WNBA game! This time in LA. Atlanta, Chicago and LA now. It appears the dildo may have lightly grazed Sophie Cunningham who tweeted not to hit players with the dildos. This is an all time story. This league! pic.twitter.com/zlXUGeOCFf [8]
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 6, 2025 [9]
Police have not indicated whether the incidents are related.