MLB pitcher Rich Hill, wife arrested at New England Patriots game

Free agent pitcher Rich Hill and his wife were arrested outside Saturday’s New England Patriots game after police said his wife attempted to enter the stadium with an oversized bag and he argued with officers. Hill said in a statement the incident was “overblown” and that his wife was carrying a“fanny pack.”The charges against the Hills were reduced to civil infractions after a court appearance Monday.

Foxborough Police said Caitlin Hill was asked to leave Gillette Stadium after attempting to get into the game several times with the bag, but that she refused to leave. Police said Rich Hill then argued with officers and refused to back away as his wife was placed under arrest and into a police vehicle. The Milton, Mass., couple was charged with disorderly conduct. Caitlin Hill was also charged with trespassing and Rich Hill was charged with resisting arrest, a felony.

The charges were ultimately reduced to civil, non-criminal infractions, and the couple was fined a total of $1,000 during an appearance Monday in Wrentham District Court, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey’s office. The resisting arrest charge against Rich Hill was dropped prior to the court appearance. The couple’s lawyer, Francis O’Brien Jr., said the matter was “appropriately resolved” and “was a terribly unfortunate event that should never have escalated beyond a routine encounter. Commendably, the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office recognized this.”

Rich Hill, 39, has pitched for several major league teams since 2005, including most recently the Los Angeles Dodgers.