Tailgating Fan Wears Peterson Jersey, Hits People With Switch
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A tailgating woman wearing an Adrian Peterson jersey ahead of Sunday's match-up against New England was playfully hitting people outside TCF Bank Stadium with a stick, or switch.
WCCO-TV's Kim Johnson saw the woman, took a photo of her and posted it to Twitter. It quickly went viral.
Here's a pic. pic.twitter.com/EYY3Woulwm
— Kim Johnson (@KimJohnsonWCCO) September 14, 2014
A switch is what police say Peterson used when punishing his 4-year-old son this summer in Texas. The incident led to the star running back being indicted by a grand jury on charges of child abuse, and a subsequent national discussion on corporal punishment.
After the tweet went out, discussion started. One of those who chimed in was state Rep. Carly Melin (D-Hibbing).
@joshwarren1984 I can't come up with a response that's twitter appropriate...@KimJohnsonWCCO
— Carly Melin (@carlymelin) September 14, 2014
Peterson was deactivated for Sunday's game following the indictment. He did not accompany his team to the stadium, although many fans wore his jersey.
On Saturday, Peterson posted a $15,000 bond in Houston, where he was in jail for a half hour after turning himself in.
In regards to the punishment, Peterson told investigators he believed he gave his son a normal spanking. According to a police report, he showed investigators how he used the switch and told them he would never quit "whooping" his kids.
"I know how being spanked has helped me in my life," he said.
Peterson grew up in east Texas, and his lawyer said that such punishment is what he experienced as a child. He added that Peterson did not mean to hurt his son.
According to the police report, the boy suffered lacerations on his legs, hands, lower back and buttocks. A doctor described the injuries as open wounds and termed it "child abuse."