Popular Mercyhurst University hockey player, Carson Briere, is facing criminal charges after he and senior Mercyhurst lacrosse player Patrick Carotzi were caught on camera pushing a wheelchair down a flight of stairs at a local pub in Erie, Pennsylvania.
The incident occurred on March 11, 2023, and went viral after the pub’s security cameras captured the act.
Briere and Carotzi are facing charges of criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy to commit mischief, and disorderly conduct.
The owner of the wheelchair, Sydney Benes, filed a complaint, claiming that the fall damaged the chair, which had been purchased a year earlier for $2,000.
In this article, we will look at who Carson Briere is, what he was accused of, and how the incident has affected his career and reputation.
Who is Carson Briere?
Carson Briere is a junior ice hockey player at Mercyhurst University who studies communications.
He joined the Lakers during the 2020-21 school year and has since shone on the ice.
During his freshman year, he was nationally ranked in the top 10 freshman in points and assists per game and was also named All-AHA Selection.
That year, he was also named Mercyhurst Freshman of the Year, according to his personal biography.
Since then, he has appeared in over 61 matches and scored close to 20 goals along with 22 assists.
Prior to Mercyhurst, Briere played with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the NAHL and the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL.
He was also a member of the Arizona State hockey team but was fired in 2019 for violating team rules, according to Sports Illustrated.
What was Carson Briere accused of?
Briere made headlines in March 2023 after a video of him pushing a vacant wheelchair down a flight of stairs went viral.
The incident took place at a local pub on March 11 and was caught on the pub’s security cameras.
Both Briere and Carotzi face charges of criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy to commit mischief, and disorderly conduct, according to News agency.
Before charges were filed, the 23-year-old apologized in a statement, saying, “I am deeply sorry for my behavior.
There is no excuse for my actions, and I will do everything I can to make up for this serious lack of judgment.”
Mercyhurst also issued a statement, saying Briere and Carrozzi’s actions were inconsistent with the school’s “belief in the inherent dignity of every person,” adding that university traditions “also remind us that students and all people who make bad choices deserve opportunities to learn, change behaviors, and atone for harmful actions.”
Briere and Carrozzi have both been suspended from their sports teams and are scheduled to appear in court on May 22.
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