A drink, allegedly tossed at a University of Arizona Men's Basketball game, resulted in two charges of assault/no injury and a ban order until Feb. 24, 2026 from the University of Arizona for a former Pima County Supervisor.
Sylvia Lee, who served as a supervisor in 2024 and is now retired, was cited and issued the Exclusionary Order following an incident at the UA basketball game against Brigham Young University (BYU) on Feb. 22, according to an incident report from the University of Arizona Police Department.
According to the report, a drink was thrown from the stands at the end of the game. The officer who wrote up the report said UA fans were upset over a foul call they didn't agree with.
The officer saw someone throw the drink, but the crowds of people leaving the arena, plus the fact that many people in the arena were wearing red, led to him losing the suspect, the report said.
The drink hit the audio/visual equipment and three employees at the game, the report said. Two of them opted to press charges. The third declined.
The report said the athletics department was able to provide a possible name of the suspect, Sylvia Lee, along with her contact information.
University of Arizona Police were able to match her license photo with the person seen in the video footage.
The officer called the number provided for Lee. She called back and explained that she slipped on popcorn and soda left on the floor, causing her to spill her drink. She said she didn't do it on purpose.
The report said Lee said everyone was pointing at her, so she ran out of the building.
The officer said in the report that he explained to Lee that the video footage did not match what she was describing.
Lee came to campus where she was shown the footage. She was cited for alleged assault/no injury and issued the Exclusionary Order, the report said.
Lee spoke with KGUN 9 on Monday stating that when she called the sergeant back, she told him more than what's written in the police report, taking accountability for her actions.
"The game had just ended, and one of the BYU players that was on the court was taunting my daughter and saying some obscenities under his breath, like mouthing it. And I had a mom moment that very was kind of like a blur, and I threw the remnants of my diet coke, trying to get him. But I missed him, and got two other people I believe. I don't know who they were, and so I was cited for a misdemeanor for assault," Lee said.
Lee went on to say that she deserved it.
"It was something that happened. It was irrational, it was emotional and totally out of character for me," Lee said.
She did write a letter to BYU's athletic director apologizing for her actions, and also told him what happened with one of his players.
"Because I think, from my point of view, I was certainly wrong in doing it, but I also think that was really uncalled for on the player's part," Lee said.
Lee said she never received a response.
She goes on to say that she hopes she's remembered for all of the 40 years of community service she's done instead of this one incident.
"I hope that doesn't change the outlook of those that know me and have worked with me," Lee said. "I had a mom moment, and my guess is a lot of parents out there have had something that's happened where they got very upset because somebody was taunting their child, and even though my daughter is in her 30's, she's still my kid. She's still my child. So I always have that Mama Bear instinct, and I just want to say how sorry I am, and it'll never happen again."
Lee says the charges are in the process of being dismissed.
"It's a misdemeanor, and I got a letter saying four to six weeks it'll be dismissed, so I feel good about that," Lee said.
She said if anyone else finds themselves in a similar predicament, don't repeat her mistake.
"My advice is think before doing something so stupid, and really look at the whole big picture before you act, and I learned a lesson there," Lee said.
Lee served the remainder of Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson's term through the end of 2024 and then retired. Bronson resigned in 2023 for health reasons.
