Police: LI Ducks manager arrested on harassment, criminal mischief charges

Long Island Ducks Manager Wally Backman has been arrested, police say.

News 12 Staff

Aug 30, 2019, 4:56 PM

Updated 1,720 days ago

Share:

Long Island Ducks Manager and former New York Met Wally Backman was arrested Friday following an alleged domestic dispute.
Riverhead police confirmed that Backman, 59, is facing second-degree harassment and criminal mischief charges. Backman was arraigned in Riverhead court.
Police say they were called to his home Friday morning for a domestic dispute involving Backman and a woman.
Amanda Byrnes spoke to News 12 about the alleged incident. She says she started dating Backman about three months ago.
"(He) came right out of the bedroom here, and that's when he threw me up against the wall and pressed on my chest," says Byrnes. "It was a jealously rage, he's an alcoholic and he was heavily intoxicated from the night before."
Byrnes says Backman twisted her arm and hand and caused lacerations on her hand that lead to a sprained wrist.
Byrnes says she was at Thursday night's Ducks game, where Backman was ejected from the game and was angry. She says nothing like this had happened before, but after the alleged incident she said he was, "very irrational, cursing at me, telling me not to call the cops, do not get him arrested, do not press charges."
"He needs to get help, he needs to go into a batterers program, he needs anger management, he needs to refrain from drinking alcohol, he needs counseling, he needs intensive help and I don't deem this type of behavior acceptable at all," says Byrnes.
In a statement, Ducks President and General Manager Michael Pfaff says, "We have spoken with Wally and understand he categorically denies all the charges against him. Wally will continue as manager and neither he, nor the Long Island Ducks will comment further on this pending legal matter."
Backman's attorney told News 12 that the charges "have no factual basis" and are "completely false. When the DA's office fully investigates, Backman will be fully exonerated."
Backman was released without bail after his arraignment. He signed an order to stay away from Byrnes.
There's no prior domestic violence history between the two. But in 2001, Backman was arrested following a fight with his wife that later cost him his managerial job with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Backman is a 14-year Major League Baseball veteran, who won a World Series with the 1986 New York Mets. This is his first season as manager of the Long Island Ducks.
Backman managed the team’s Friday night game, just hours after being placed under arrest.
 VIDEO: Ducks fans react to the arrest of team manager Wally Blackman  
 



More from News 12
0:31
Police: 20-year-old Brooklyn driver dead following crash on Meadowbrook Parkway

Police: 20-year-old Brooklyn driver dead following crash on Meadowbrook Parkway

2:08
Cloudy skies, spotty showers and gusty winds for today

Cloudy skies, spotty showers and gusty winds for today

2:20
Suffolk police: 17 people arrested in one week during Operation Smoke Out

Suffolk police: 17 people arrested in one week during Operation Smoke Out

5:35
Road Trip Close to Home hits the 200 episode milestone!

Road Trip Close to Home hits the 200 episode milestone!

0:23
2 men arrested for selling tobacco products to minors in Levittown

2 men arrested for selling tobacco products to minors in Levittown

0:30
Medford man convicted of transporting 3 people who crossed into U.S. illegally

Medford man convicted of transporting 3 people who crossed into U.S. illegally

0:19
4 people wanted for stealing over $5,000 of merchandise from Macy's

4 people wanted for stealing over $5,000 of merchandise from Macy's

0:30
New screening can identify preeclampsia risk sooner in pregnancy

New screening can identify preeclampsia risk sooner in pregnancy

4:12
The East End: Explore the North Fork on 2 wheels via East End Bike Tours

The East End: Explore the North Fork on 2 wheels via East End Bike Tours

1:57
Get inspired with a visit to the Heckscher Museum of Arts

Get inspired with a visit to the Heckscher Museum of Arts

1:46
Prosecutors: Costco parking lot panhandling pusher has multiple felony, misdemeanor convictions

Prosecutors: Costco parking lot panhandling pusher has multiple felony, misdemeanor convictions

0:31
Crash on Merrick Road sends one car into restaurant storefront

Crash on Merrick Road sends one car into restaurant storefront

1:45
31 HS seniors from 7 LI schools honored for commitment to join armed forces

31 HS seniors from 7 LI schools honored for commitment to join armed forces

0:39
Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital launches new service to treat epilepsy

Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital launches new service to treat epilepsy

1:46
Elite athletes check out new cricket stadium in East Meadow ahead of 2024 Cricket World Cup

Elite athletes check out new cricket stadium in East Meadow ahead of 2024 Cricket World Cup

2:05
10 Long Island school districts receiving state grants to expand pre-K programs

10 Long Island school districts receiving state grants to expand pre-K programs

2:00
Residents voice concerns over new parking lot proposed for Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

Residents voice concerns over new parking lot proposed for Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

1:53
Public hearing today on new 152-spot parking lot at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

Public hearing today on new 152-spot parking lot at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

0:41
Gov. Hochul: Paid prenatal leave policy to go into effect in 2025

Gov. Hochul: Paid prenatal leave policy to go into effect in 2025

1:48
What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's Roasted Pork Broccoli Rabe and Sharp Provolone Hero

What's Cooking: Uncle Giuseppe's Roasted Pork Broccoli Rabe and Sharp Provolone Hero