Carson Briere faces three misdemeanor charges for pushing a wheelchair down the stairs
Carson Briere, a member of the Mercyhurst College hockey team and son of Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Danny Briere, faces three misdemeanor charges after pushing a woman’s wheelchair down a flight of stairs in a bar in Erie, Pennsylvania earlier this month.
According to court documents filed in Erie on Monday, local police have charged Briere and Mercyhurst lacrosse team member Patrick Carozzi with criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy to commit mischief and disorderly conduct. Brière, 23, and Carrozi, 21, are due in court on May 22.
The two Mercyhurst athletes, who have since been suspended by the school pending an investigation, were spotted on one of the bar’s surveillance cameras sending the wheelchair hurtling down a flight of stairs in the late hours of 11 March.
A GoFundMe campaign launched last week to benefit the wheelchair owner (Sydney Benes, 22-year-old double amputee) raised US$8,811 on Monday night. Benes said she bought the chair a year ago for $2,000 and promised on Twitter to donate any extra money not needed for repairs « to the disability community and people who really need help. »
In a complaint filed with local authorities, Benes said the fall down the stairs caused the wheels of the chair to drag when moving forward and damaged several other components, including the left brake handle and the right armrest.
Both Carson and Danny Briere released statements via the Flyers shortly after details of the incident were made public last week.
« I was shocked to see Carson’s actions in the video that was shared on social media yesterday, » Danny Briere said in his statement. “They are inexcusable and go completely against our family values about treating people with respect. Carson is truly sorry and accepts full responsibility for his behavior.
« I am deeply sorry for my behavior on Saturday, » added Carson Brière. « There is no excuse for my actions, and I will do whatever I can to make up for this serious lack of judgment. »
Briere has spent the past three seasons with the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team. He was previously scheduled to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils before being fired from their hockey program in 2019 for what the school described as a « violation of team rules. »
