Carson Briere, son of Flyers interim GM Daniel, charged for pushing empty wheelchair down stairs 

The son of interim Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere has been charged after video posted to social media showed him and another Mercyhurst University athlete pushing an empty wheelchair up a stairwell.

Police in Erie, Pennsylvania, have filed charges of criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy to commit mischief and disorderly conduct against Carson Briere, 23, who completed his third hockey season at Mercyhurst.

Patrick Carrozzi, who is listed as a senior member of the school’s lacrosse team, faces the same three charges, according to documents filed with U.S. District Judge Sue Mack. The two are due to appear in court on May 22.

Briere and Carrozzi are seen on surveillance video at the top of the stairs of a local bar, where they push the wheelchair up the steps on March 11.

Police say his actions posed a potential danger to anyone going up the stairs, while also creating a dangerous condition by blocking the stairs.

The wheelchair’s owner, identified as Sydney Benes, filed a complaint saying the fall down the stairs damaged the left brake handle, broke plastic trim on the right armrest, bent a rear handle and caused the wheels to drag on the rear. advance. Benes said the wheelchair was purchased a year ago and cost $2,000.

It is not clear if Briere or Carrozzi have lawyers who can speak on their behalf.

Briere and two other athletes were temporarily suspended while the school investigated the matter.

A message seeking comment left with a spokeswoman for the Mercyhurst athletic department was not immediately returned.

Last week, Briere, 23, apologized in a statement released via the NHL Flyers.

Video posted to social media shows Briere (6), who plays for Mercyhurst, and teammate Patrick Carrozzi pushing an empty wheelchair up the stairs at a local bar.

Briere apologized for his behavior last week saying: ‘there is no excuse for my actions’

“I deeply regret my behavior on Saturday,” he said. “There is no excuse for my actions, and I will do my best to make up for this gross lack of judgment.”

Danny Briere, who was promoted to manage the Flyers after Chuck Fletcher was fired two weeks ago, said he was surprised to see his son’s actions, calling them “inexcusable,” while his son “accepts full responsibility for your behavior’.

Mercyhurst previously issued a statement saying the actions shown in the video fall short of the school’s “belief in the inherent dignity of every person,” adding that the “tradition of the school also reminds us that students and all people who make bad decisions deserve opportunities to learn, change behaviors and atone for harmful actions.’

Carson Briere was previously fired from the Arizona State hockey club in 2019 for what the school called a violation of team rules.