One photo shows the moments after suspect Sean Thompson admittedly threw the pie in Johnson’s face.
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“One witness described it as a ‘bloody pulp, ‘” Miller wrote, adding Sacramento Police arrested 32-year-old Sean Thompson for felony assault of a public official.
Following the incident, the mayor took to Twitter to tweet that he was doing “fine” and thanked the police who came to his rescue.
Johnson was not injured during the pie throwing saga at Sacramento Charter High School during a Seeds of HOPE dinner. But Johnson’s Chief of Staff, Crystal Strait, has denied that claim, saying, “He struck back in some way” but this “was not like some bloody punch-fest”. “I still stand by what I did”, said Thompson.
Thompson, who is being held on $100,000 bail, is scheduled to be formally charged in court Friday afternoon. From behind a glass partition late Thursday, he said Johnson has spent his time in political office focusing on the Golden 1 Center, the Sacramento Kings arena that’s expected to cost more than half a billion dollars, instead of projects that can actually help the community.
Asked if he would do it again, Thompson told the Sacramento Bee “Absolutely”. Thompson was hospitalized before he was taken to jail and said Thursday that he had nine stitches around his left eye.
Prosecutors will review the case, including the mayor’s reaction, after receiving the police reports, likely on Friday, district attorney spokeswoman Shelly Orio said.
A pie in the face of a former National Basketball Association star lands one man in jail.
“Put the energy into helping create jobs and give money back to the community the way we need it”, Thompson said. Thompson said he meant to use it to “embarrass” the mayor.
Johnson is well-known for his efforts to revitalize Oak Park, a predominantly African-American neighborhood.
Johnson played for the Suns for 12 seasons after being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1987.
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