Former New York Knicks Player Charles Oakley Arrested After Altercation at Madison Square Garden

The basketball legend was arrested at Madison Square Garden in NYC.

ByABC News
February 9, 2017, 9:18 AM

— -- Former New York Knicks forward Charles Oakley was removed from Madison Square Garden Wednesday night and arrested after he became "completely abusive" to arena staff while attending a game, according to the NBA team.

A police source told ABC News that the incident began when Oakley started yelling at Knicks owner James Dolan, who was seated in front of him. Dolan eventually asked security to escort Oakley from the venue. The retired player refused to leave without incident, and proceeded to assault a couple of arena employees, the source said.

"Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner," the Knicks wrote in a statement on Twitter. "He has been ejected and is currently being arrested by the New York City Police Department. He was a great Knick and we hope he gets some help soon."

Oakley told ABC station WABC-TV in New York that he was "trying to have a good time. Next thing I know, I was asked to leave the building. I asked why and they said, 'Well, you have to leave because someone ordered you to leave.' And I'm like, I've been here four and a half minutes, I'm a Knicks fan, played here for 10 years, I love the Knicks, I love New York, this is my heart, I wish them all the luck."

He added: "I don't know why I'm not welcome into the Garden."

Oakley, 53, was charged with three counts of third-degree assault, according to The Associated Press, citing the NYPD. He was processed and released from the NYPD's Midtown South precinct, where he was issued a summons to report back to court.

Oakley's lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement, "We deny the allegations and will answer them in court."

A video posted on Twitter showed Oakley scuffling with police officers and Madison Square Garden security guards as they attempted to remove him from the arena.

In another video, Oakley is seen holding on to a railing as officials try to eject him.

SBNY Exclusive Part II: Charles Oakley getting pulled out of the Garden pic.twitter.com/WtsVVVitH3

— SportsBlogNewYork (@SportBlogNYC) February 9, 2017

The 6-foot-8 Oakley was a rugged enforcer playing alongside Patrick Ewing on the Knicks teams of the 1990s and has kept his tough-guy persona long after retirement, trading barbs with former rival Charles Barkley recently.

Related Topics

The 6-foot-8 Oakley was a rugged enforcer playing alongside Patrick Ewing on the Knicks teams of the 1990s and has kept his tough-guy persona long after retirement, trading barbs with former rival Charles Barkley recently.

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