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Why do people keep punching police horses at Philadelphia Eagles games?

A fan is taken into custody in Lincoln Financial Field's Parking Lot M as Philadelphia Police and Pennsylvania State Troopers on horseback tried to disperse fans who were tailgating hours before the Eagles-Minnesota Vikings game on Jan. 21.
(Andrew Mills / Associated Press)
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For the second week in a row, someone was charged with punching a police officer and his horse at Lincoln Financial Field on the day of a Philadelphia Eagles playoff game.

On Sunday, the incident took place while fans were tailgating outside the Linc about three hours before the Eagles hosted the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game, according to WTXF-Fox 29 in Philadelphia.

A mounted Pennsylvania State Police corporal attempted to disperse a crowd in Parking Lot M, but a man identified as Andrew Tornetta became verbally combative and refused to leave, police said. According to police, the officer grabbed Tornetta by the clothing in an attempt to maintain control, and the man punched the horse twice in the right front shoulder and then hit the officer just below his eye.

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Tornetta then slipped out of his sweatshirt and attempted to flee into the crowd but was caught, according to police. His charges include aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Last week, Eagles fan Taylor Hendricks was ejected from the Eagles’ divisional round game against the Atlanta Falcons for being intoxicated and not having a ticket, according to WTXF. On his way out of the Linc, Hendricks reportedly approached a mounted officer and repeatedly punched the horse in the face and neck before hitting the officer in the legs.

Neither the officer nor the horse was injured, according to Philadelphia magazine.

Hendricks is charged with aggravated assault, taunting a police animal, simple assault and trespassing, according to court records.

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii

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