Octopus Thrower's Conduct Charge Is Dismissed

NHL Fines Man For Throwing Octopus At March Red Wings Game

DETROIT – The Farmington man who was fined by the NHL for throwing an octopus on the ice during a Detroit Red Wings game was charged with disorderly conduct.

There is a Detroit city ordinance against throwing objects on the Joe Louis Arena ice during games. Charlie Graves pleaded not guilty April 26 to a disorderly conduct charge.

Recommended Videos



However, the city has decided to drop the charge. The arresting officer never showed up to court Thursday for Graves' hearing, Graves said.

The NHL fined Graves $500 after he admitted to ushers that he threw an octopus on the Joe Louis Arena ice during a March 21 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Watch:

"It is a 50-something-odd-year tradition," Graves said. "I feel the city of Detroit takes pride in their tradition, and if the (NHL) commissioner thinks we are going to go down without a fight, he is wrong."

An octopus was tossed on the ice during a Red Wings first-round playoff game this month. The man who threw that octopus also was charged with disorderly conduct and fined $500 by the NHL.

Graves had said he would fight the charge in support of the tradition. .

"I pleaded not guilty, of course," Graves said in April. "I'm going to fight for this tradition. If I had the chance I'd do it again, of course."