A FRIEND now facing charges for allegedly buying a baseball fan alcohol before his 21-foot fall at a game has a lengthy previous rap sheet, The U.S. Sun can reveal.
Kavan Markwood, 20, fell from the bleachers onto the field during the seventh inning of the Pirates-Cubs game late last month.
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Police revealed on Tuesday that Ethan Kirkwood, 21, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has been hit with two counts of selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor.
According to authorities, he admitted to buying the alcohol for Markwood at PNC Park.
The U.S. Sun can now exclusively reveal this is not Kirkwood’s first run-in with the law, with court records showing a string of arrests over the past three years.
Filings from Indiana County show he pleaded guilty to public drunkness and purchasing alcohol as a minor in late October 2022.
But he was hit with the same charges again in Butler County in January 2023 and pleaded guilty to both.
In January 2025, he was then accused of several traffic violations including reckless driving in Allegheny County.
He eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving and paid a fine of $327.
On February 2 this year he was then arrested in the same area for operating a vehicle without a valid inspection but he was later found not guilty, according to documents.
He’s now in hot water again as police are investigating him for allegedly supplying alcohol to a minor.
A criminal complaint refers to Kirkwood on security video buying two tall cans of beer before the game started.
Footage from later in the game showed Kirkwood and Markwood holding the beers, according to the filing.
Kirkwood is allegedly then seen returning to the bar and going back with another two beers at least one more time before Markwood fell over the railing.
He is due in court for a preliminary case hearing next month.
Markwood suffered severe injuries from his fall, breaking his neck, back, and collarbone, according to reports.
He was seen tumbling over the right field railing after an Andrew McCutchen double.
In an interview with TribLive, Markwood explained that he is “all right,” but admitted that he is struggling to sleep at night following the accident at the game.
Allegheny General Hospital chief medical officer Dr. Allan Philp revealed in a news conference that Markwood also suffered a brain injury in the fall.
“I’m happy to say that he’s progressed well; he’s at a point now where he’s off the breathing machine, he’s out of the intensive care unit, and is preparing to move on to the next step, which will be physical therapy, rehab,” he told WTAE.
The GoFundMe account set up for his recovery has so far raised more than $67,000.
Jennifer Phillips, the mom of his girlfriend, previously gave an update on the page, writing, “It’s a slow, slow process, but seeing him up and moving was a huge win and definitely lifted everyone’s spirits.
“He still has a long way to go — he’s dealing with a broken neck, clavicle, and back so there are plenty of obstacles ahead.
“But he’s showing real strength, and we’re staying hopeful for a smooth recovery.
“This will also require plenty of rest and following instructions from the great doctors, nurses, and staff at the hospital.”
The family did not reply to a request for comment on Kirkwood’s arrest from The U.S. Sun.
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