
A 23-year-old college hockey player is due in court May 22 due to an incident that led to a woman’s wheelchair falling down a flight of stairs.
Carson Briere, a junior on the Mercyhurst University hockey team, is also the son of Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Danny Briere. Video posted online appears to show the younger Briere sitting in the empty wheelchair before pushing it down a flight of stairs at a bar called Sullivan’s Pub and Eatery.
At the time, security was helping the owner of the wheelchair use a staff bathroom, said CBS News, citing Sullivan’s security head Nate Sanders. He said that Briere was kicked out of the bar along with a friend after security reviewed the camera footage.
“The woman that the chair belongs to is Sydney Benes, a double amputee that needs the chair to be mobile while she is learning to use her prosthetics,” said a GoFundMe page established to help Benes get a new wheelchair. “She wanted to remain anonymous during this till she filed a police report for the damages to the chair. That report was filed Wednesday morning and has since made her identity known.”
More than $8,800 was raised to help Benes.
According to Erie, Pa., court documents, Briere has been charged with criminal mischief/damage of property, conspiracy and disorderly conduct. CBS News reported that Patrick Carrozzi, a Mercyhurst lacrosse player, was also charged.
“I was shocked to see Carson’s actions in the video that was shared on social media,” said a statement from Danny Briere. “They are inexcusable and run completely counter to our family’s values on treating people with respect. Carson is very sorry and accepts full responsibility for his behavior.”