Mayor defends not banning Pokemon GO from veterans memorial
Young players mock veteran at memorial park
A Vietnam veteran's tirade against Pokemon GO players at a veterans park in Minnesota was caught on video, leading to a citation -- but also leading officials Monday to consider banning games from the park entirely.
Warning: Video contains profanity.
Bruce Reed Jr. of Winona was cited for fourth-degree criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors, the Winona Daily News reported.
Reed was seen telling players Veterans Memorial Park was "not a f------ campground." The video Thursday showed him knocking over a portable picnic awning that was set up not far from war monuments.
At one point, he appeared to knock the camera from the hands of the person recording. Reed told The Associated Press he was having a "flashback" to Vietnam during the confrontation.
Near the end of the video, one voice was heard saying, "I wouldn't mind getting punched to get these veterans out of here."
Reed told the Winona Post, "People can come walk through the park, hold hands, sit on the benches, but don’t turn it into a campsite."
As the Winona City Council considered a measure to ban games at the park, council member and fellow veteran Gerry Krage said using the park to play Pokemon GO was disrespectful.
If the ban took effect, people who played the game at the park could face 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine, the Post reported.
The video has generated more than 1 million views on YouTube.
Winona is a two-hour drive southeast of Minneapolis.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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