Gritty, Franklin, and Hip-Hop Booked on Multiple Charges
Three Philadelphia mascots were arrested near the Art Museum early Friday. Charges include possession of illegal substances, weapons possession, destruction of public property, and public indecency. They cited Brotherly Love.
PHILADELPHIA — Gritty, Franklin the Dog, and Hip-Hop were taken into custody near the Philadelphia Museum of Art early Monday morning. Both franchises they represent had been eliminated from postseason play, both in series sweeps, by Sunday evening.
Charges include possession of cocaine and methamphetamines, possession of deadly weapons, destruction of public property, and public indecency.
The weapons, per the inventoried evidence: one hockey stick, sharpened at the blade. One improvised shiv, origin unknown. One set of false teeth, logged after officers noted they were “sharp enough to break the skin.”
The destruction charge concerns a statue at the foot of the museum steps. The mascots told officers it depicts a man born in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan — and that its placement outside a Philadelphia landmark was “unwelcome, inexcusable, and nothin’ we want in our city!” Officers confirmed the birthplace. They did not confirm the logic. The statue is a stand-in; the original Rocky was moved inside the museum in March for an exhibition. The mascots did not know this.
The public indecency charge stems from actions taken as officers approached for the arrest.
When asked for a collective statement, the three mascots said they had been brought together by Brotherly Love. This is the city’s nickname. Neither they nor the city appeared to find this ironic.
Bail has been set. Other detainees in the holding block have requested relocation.
