Akon Incident Scrutinized

Fishkill, N.Y., police are looking for a concertgoer who was hoisted in the air and tossed off the stage by Akon June 3rd to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against the singer.

The incident took place during the sold-out KFEST concert at Fishkill’s Dutchess Stadium. Other acts on the bill included Omarion, Paula DeAnda, Lumidee, Baby Boy, Tiffany Affair, and Brooke Hogan.

"We’re still waiting to identify whoever that is," Fishkill Town Board member and police liaison Steve Ferguson told the Poughkeepsie Journal. "We’re looking to see if they want to press charges."

A video clip of the incident shows a young man, who allegedly threw a small plastic disk or a Frisbee at the performer, being called onstage by Akon. He is led through the crowd with the help of security and lifted onstage by the performer, who picks him up over his head and tosses him headfirst back into the audience. Then he continues his set.

There’s no indication the concertgoer was injured or upset, but Fishkill police would like to talk to him just the same and possibly question Akon.

"We’re trying to identify this kid, just to find out whether or not we have any kind of criminal offense," Fishkill Police Det. Lt. John Berlingieri told the paper. "We are looking to speak to him. No victim. No crime."

Crime or no, insurance carriers are never excited when performers throw items from the stage into the audience – especially the audience itself.

The Journal later reported that the young man was not hurt and refused medical treatment before leaving Dutchess Stadium shortly after.

WSPK-FM station GM Jason Finkelberg said he is cooperating with police in the investigation but doesn’t think there was any malice on Akon’s part. He said he and his staff discussed Akon’s "issues" prior to KFEST. WSPK-FM sponsored the concert.

"We did our due diligence," he told the Journal. "We talked to everyone we could find. We were comfortable with the show.

The performer got into hot water during an April 12th concert in Trinidad. Akon was videotaped doing a very adult-oriented dance onstage with a girl who turned out to be 15 years old and was reportedly allowed into the 18-plus show by club security.

The media scandal led to Verizon pulling its sponsorship from the Gwen Stefani tour, which had Akon in support.