Man Arrested After Running Onto Wrigley Field During Game

CHICAGO, IL — A man ran onto Wrigley Field in the middle of a Cubs game on Sunday, police said. Wrigley security guards caught the man on the field, and turned him over to Chicago police, authorities said. He was scheduled to appear in bond court Monday.

Joseph Confer, 24, of Crest Hill, is charged with one felony count of criminal trespass to a place of public amusement, police said.

Confer ran onto the field around 4:20 p.m. while the game was in progress, according to police. He was detained by security and later taken into custody, police said. Criminal trespass carries a fine of at least $1,000, as well as a minimum of 30 hours of community service.

Despite the fact that the Cubs were playing the Pirates, Confer was reportedly wearing a Yankees jersey with his own last name on the back.

Several fans captured cell phone video of Confer being taken to the ground by security after rushing the field, complete with some colorful commentary. In videos, Cubs player Javier Baez can be seen pacing a short distance away from where Confer was tackled.

The Cubs wound up losing to the Pirates 7-1 on Sunday.

Confer has a record in Will County, including a 2012 burglary arrest. Court records indicate he pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to 24 months of conditional discharge and 100 hours of community service.

Confer is not the first Will County resident to get in trouble for rushing the field during a Chicago pro baseball game. In 2003, a 25-year-old Bolingbrook man who not only ran into the field but also attacked an umpire during a White Sox/Royals game was sentenced to six months after pleading guilty. He was overpowered by Royals players before he could do any harm.

Image: Joseph Confer, 24, of Crest Hill; via CPD

Shannon Antinori, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.