Phillies apologize for man who vomited on girl

The Easton, Pa., police captain whose 11-year-old daughter was allegedly intentionally vomited on by a fan at a Phillies game said Saturday that the team had offered to host him and his family at a game, let them watch batting practice on the field, and treat them to dinner.

"I accepted, and I don't blame the organization for this incident," Capt. Michael Vangelo said. "The blame rests solely with Mr. [Matthew] Clemmens and his friend."

Vangelo said his daughter was still troubled by what happened at Wednesday's game. "She just wants to forget the entire thing."

The Phillies organization has apologized.

Clemmens, 21, of Cherry Hill, was arrested and charged with simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment, disorderly conduct, and related offices. As of Friday, he was in custody. Police were unable to say Saturday whether he had posted bail.

Clemmens allegedly was being a nuisance to Vangelo, his two daughters, and a friend before intentionally vomiting on one of the girls and then punching the father.

The vomiting occurred after Clemmens' friend was ejected from Citizens Bank Park.

In statements to the Philadelphia Daily News, Clemmens' uncle Dave Clemmens said that while he was not at the game, he thought his nephew may have been sick.

"As I understood it, he was choking on his own vomit, and he put his hand over his mouth, and it sprayed over the crowd," the Daily News quoted the uncle as saying. He also said his nephew had been drinking.

"It was absolutely intentional," Vangelo wrote in an e-mail Saturday, "as I was five feet away from him and observed him place his fingers down his throat in an obvious attempt to induce himself to vomit. He then lurched forward and directed his vomit at me and my family."