Ballhawker may have paid $1,000 to be at exclusive Fort Bragg MLB game

By: Andy Slater

Was a civilian able to pay $1,000 to get into a baseball game exclusively for active-duty service members and family at Fort Bragg? 

It's quite possible a guy best known for snagging home run balls may have also snagged a ticket to Sunday night's MLB game between the Marlins and Braves.

Ballhawker Zack Hample apparently offered the money on Tinder and seemed to be getting bites from service members --- even though strict guidelines said no tickets were allowed to be sold or given away. 

Any active-duty service member and their dependents were eligible for a ticket, provided they had a Department of Defense ID. 

Hample posted a few photos on Twitter Sunday night showing he was in attendance. 

(Update 9:45p ET) The 82nd Airborne Division weighs in.

(Update: 10:00p ET) An active-duty service member contacted me and sent me Twitter direct messages from Hample, based on anonymity. In the messages, Hample mentioned he'd be able to buy a ticket and also have "an escort all day" while on the military base. The service member said he was originally offered $500 from Hample as a "finder's fee" if he could find someone to sell their ticket to him. The service member says he did not oblige, but apparently Hample was able to find a seller.  

During the 7th inning, Hample responded to the questions.

Early Monday morning, Hample responded to an earlier email request on how he obtained the ticket. 

"I initially offered to pay, not realizing that was a big no-no," Hample said. "So then I just hoped my reputation would prompt someone to help me and it did... pretty simple, really."

Hample also mentioned the quick story he wrote in his tweet.

Meanwhile, Marlins Man confirmed he would not be there.

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(Photo-H/T: @Zack_Hample, @PardonMyTake)

 

Exclusive Video: Miami stripper tries to bribe cop

By: Andy Slater

A stripper in Miami pulled down her shirt, pulled out some cash, and asked an officer how much she owed him. The apparent attempt to get out of a ticket was all caught on a new Miami-Dade Police body cam.

Margaret Garcia, 26, was arrested June 19 in Northwest Miami-Dade after the routine traffic stop turned into a felony bribery charge.

Exclusively obtained video of the incident gives us the first ever look from the department's new recording device. 

The officer said he stopped Garcia for speeding. When he approached the vehicle, he also saw a bag containing marijuana, including a strong odor from it.

In the full video, which is more than 2 hours in length, Garcia tells the officer multiple times she is a stripper.

Aside from being charged with bribery and marijuana possession, Garcia also received the initial speeding ticket. 

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Judge frustrated with State Attorney's Office in Walton case

By: Andy Slater

"Who's in charge of this investigation?"

Those were the words of Judge Fred Seraphin Wednesday morning after he asked the State Attorney's Office why they were still not ready to proceed with Mark Walton's trial.

"Why is this not done yet, this was from April," Judge Seraphin asked assistant state attorney Nicole Garcia, who said she's in charge.

"We're still trying to investigate this to see whether we proceed on the DUI," Garcia responded.

"What do you mean you're trying to investigate," Judge Seraphin replied. "What does that mean you're trying?"

On June 8, the State Attorney's Office requested more time to investigate their case against the Hurricanes running back. The request was granted until Wednesday morning, when the state's second request was denied. 

"There's a couple of issues in the case as to whether it's going to be a DUI or if it's going to be something else, " Garcia told Judge Seraphin. 

"You guys filed a DUI charge, so therefore you believe you had probable cause to arrest and to file the charges, Judge Seraphin said to Garcia. "The facts are the facts." 

Walton's attorney Joey McCall said "despite the evidence that the City of Miami police claimed that they had, [the State Attorney's Office] is still not even sure if this is a DUI or not three months later."

McCall pointed out something else that he said was "not normal."

"The judge asked [Garcia] who her supervisor was," McCall said. "Perhaps there's an issue procedurally with what she's doing and maybe even the judge is calling into question what exactly is going on with this case."

The Canes running back was arrested on April 23 and charged with DUI and knowingly driving with a suspended license.

Walton's trial is set for the middle of July.

The University of Miami suspended Walton indefinitely immediately after his arrest. As I reported, though, Walton was reinstated. The school has yet to release any updated statement regarding his status.

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(Photo: Sun Sentinel)

MLB players can now win a Bentley at Marlins Park

By: Andy Slater

Any MLB player who steps into the batter's box at Marlins Park can now win a brand new Bentley.

Winning the $300,000 luxury vehicle is obviously not going to be easy. 

A player who hits any part of the "O" in the new "Monster" electronic sign in centerfield wins the "Baller Bentley." 

The Marlins teamed up with Monster Products for the giveaway. Monster recently formed a partnership with the car manufacturer.

Hitting the sign during batting practice will not count. 

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Exclusive: Man bitten by snake at Disney World

By: Andy Slater

A man was bitten by a snake Wednesday morning while watching his son play baseball at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

"The snake came out from under the bleachers, crawled up my leg, and bit the [expletive] out of my hand," West Palm Beach resident Carlos Carles said after exclusively sharing pictures with me.

Carles, 52, was stepping on the snake for at least 25 minutes waiting for "an Animal Kingdom guy," he said. "I didn't want a kid to get bit and no one working there wanted anything to do with it." 

All activity on the baseball field was stopped after the incident, Carles explained.

A Disney representative wrapped Carles' hand while the snake was still under his foot, he said. 

"I was where I was supposed to be," Carles said. "My hand stings and hurts badly."

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(Photo: Carlos Carles)