Piggyback Bandit arrested at Mont. soccer tourney

[October 31, 2011]  HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- Authorities say a man dubbed the "Piggyback Bandit" because of a history of jumping on the backs of high school athletes in Oregon and Washington state has been arrested in Montana.

Helena Police Chief Troy McGee says police received a tip that 28-year-old Sherwin Shayegan was at a high school boys soccer tournament in Helena on Friday and observed him jump on a player's back.

The Independent Record reports (http://bit.ly/vfS68I) police took Shayegan into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor assault. It wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney.

Last spring the Oregon School Activities Association warned athletes to look out for Shayegan after officials say he turned up at events in Eugene and Pendleton and got piggyback rides from some athletes.

Police in Bonney Lake, Wash., say Shayegan gave a high school athlete money and jumped on his back.

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Information from: Independent Record, http://www.helenair.com/

[Associated Press]

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