Pittsburgh cops are turning the arrest of Jake Waddell into a catch and release.

The people have spoken. And Waddell, the Tennessee man who threw a catfish onto the ice in Pittsburgh during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, will not be charged with any crimes.


Per WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala isn’t going to prosecute:

“Having reviewed the affidavit involving Mr. Waddell as well as the television coverage of the incident, District Attorney Zappala has made the determination that the actions of Mr. Waddell do not rise to the level of criminal charges. As such, the three charges filed against Mr. Waddell will be withdrawn in a timely manner,” said Mike Manko, a spokesman for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.


Waddell was originally charged with disorderly conduct, possession of an instrument of a crime and disrupting a meeting. Now he is free to brag about his catfish toss without threat of prosecution. Sometimes, the system works.