Father, Son Beat Up Man Over Pokemon Go: Police

KIRKWOOD, MO — Father's Day was last weekend, but one father-son pair will be spending some quality time in jail after getting into a fight with another man Tuesday afternoon over Pokemon Go. Police say 71-year-old Robert Matteuzzi and his 31-year-old son, Angelo Matteuzzi, beat up a man who accused them of cheating at the augmented reality game, leaving their victim with lacerations, an eye injury and a broken finger.

Kirkwood police say they have video of the incident, taken by a bystander, but have not released it.

According to charging documents, the alternation started in the 500 block of West Adams Avenue, near North Geyer Road and Kirkwood Park — an area ripe with Pokemon gyms.

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Pokemon gyms are virtual spaces that players compete to control, using captured "pocket monsters" to do battle. The gyms sit over top real-life places like parks, bus stops, and other well-known landmarks.

The Matteuzzis had just captured one such gym when a man threw a Gatorade bottle into their car and accused them of cheating, police say. Robert Matteuzzi, the elder, threw the bottle back, hitting the man in the face. That's when a fight broke out, according to police.

Each Matteuzzi faces one count of third degree assault. Bail was set at $15,000.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

Photo by J. Ryne Danielson/Patch