Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen Attacked at Florida Hotel

Son of Vistalite Black

Well-known Member
Son of Vistalite Black's sincere wish is that no one will take this news as an opportunity to make cheap jokes about a violent attack on a disabled person.

It appears from Leppard's website that there aren't any shows scheduled before May.

From 7 News Miami:

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The drummer of legendary rock group Def Leppard was assaulted outside the hotel he was staying at after a show in South Florida.

Rick Allen, who sadly lost his arm in a car accident back in 1984, was outside the Four Seasons in the valet area for a smoke. That’s when a very strange and scary encounter happened.

Allen was in South Florida to perform a show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino over the weekend.

The show, this past Sunday, had Def Leppard co-headlining with Mötley Crüe.


Allen, 59, was staying at the Four Seasons on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

According to a police report, he was violently attacked by Max Edward Hartley, 19, who was visiting from Ohio.

Bailey bailed out of the Broward County Jail on Tuesday. He was met by a 7News photographer who questioned why he would knock over a man with one arm and whether he knew that the man was Def Leppard’s drummer.

“Max, are you a Def Leppard fan?” he’s asked.

Hartley turned away without comment.

Fort Lauderdale Police said Hartley was hiding behind a pillar outside the hotel while Allen was smoking his cigarette when Hartley, according to the report, ran at full speed at Allen, knocking him to the ground.

The report states Allen “hit his head on the ground causing injury.”

The report then says a woman ran out of the hotel to help Allen, and Hartley, police said, then attacked her.

According to the report, “While she is on the ground, the defendant continues to batter her by striking her. [She] attempts to escape by running into the hotel. The defendant then grabs [her] by her hair and drags her out of the lobby and back onto the sidewalk before fleeing the area.”

Hartley was arrested after he was found at a nearby hotel breaking car windows.

The suspect said nothing to 7News cameras besides, “Stop,” as he held his arms up to shield his face, showing visible injuries on his elbows.

He has been charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult.

Allen provided a sworn statement to police and told them that he indeed wants to prosecute.

7News has reached out to Allen’s media team to see whether he would be available for comment, but as of Wednesday evening, there has been no response.

 
hope he prosecutes him (it..) to the max
 
Son of Vistalite Black's sincere wish is that no one will take this news as an opportunity to make cheap jokes about a violent attack on a disabled person.

It appears from Leppard's website that there aren't any shows scheduled before May.

From 7 News Miami:

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The drummer of legendary rock group Def Leppard was assaulted outside the hotel he was staying at after a show in South Florida.

Rick Allen, who sadly lost his arm in a car accident back in 1984, was outside the Four Seasons in the valet area for a smoke. That’s when a very strange and scary encounter happened.

Allen was in South Florida to perform a show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino over the weekend.

The show, this past Sunday, had Def Leppard co-headlining with Mötley Crüe.


Allen, 59, was staying at the Four Seasons on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

According to a police report, he was violently attacked by Max Edward Hartley, 19, who was visiting from Ohio.

Bailey bailed out of the Broward County Jail on Tuesday. He was met by a 7News photographer who questioned why he would knock over a man with one arm and whether he knew that the man was Def Leppard’s drummer.

“Max, are you a Def Leppard fan?” he’s asked.

Hartley turned away without comment.

Fort Lauderdale Police said Hartley was hiding behind a pillar outside the hotel while Allen was smoking his cigarette when Hartley, according to the report, ran at full speed at Allen, knocking him to the ground.

The report states Allen “hit his head on the ground causing injury.”

The report then says a woman ran out of the hotel to help Allen, and Hartley, police said, then attacked her.

According to the report, “While she is on the ground, the defendant continues to batter her by striking her. [She] attempts to escape by running into the hotel. The defendant then grabs [her] by her hair and drags her out of the lobby and back onto the sidewalk before fleeing the area.”

Hartley was arrested after he was found at a nearby hotel breaking car windows.

The suspect said nothing to 7News cameras besides, “Stop,” as he held his arms up to shield his face, showing visible injuries on his elbows.

He has been charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult.

Allen provided a sworn statement to police and told them that he indeed wants to prosecute.

7News has reached out to Allen’s media team to see whether he would be available for comment, but as of Wednesday evening, there has been no response.

Scumbag attacks a disabled older person AND a Woman! Can't wait for the boys in the prison shower to have at this loser
 
Sounds like a bath salts attack.
 
Read the article this morning, absolutely and totally senseless. I'll never understand what drives some people to do things like this.

Good on Rick that he intends to press charges against this idiot.
 
Sounds like he bugged out on substances. News presenter sounds like a heavy smoker. The reporter said he's a probable Spring Breaker.

Florida man happens partly because it's a warm state. It's harder far a vagrant or part time homeless person to freeze in Florida.
 
Allen has millions of fans. Now everyone knows Max's full name and appearance. Good luck with that, Max . . . . .
 
Having one arm qualifies as a handicap so both Federal and Florida laws in that regard broken besides simple assault. I am sure he will be prosecuted but what penalty can range a lot. I’m all for a harsh punishment because it was so random and violent -for no cause other than violence.
 
“Max, are you a Def Leppard fan?” he’s asked.

Hartley turned away without comment.

....like that was the burning question everyone wanted to know. What a joke. The media are SUCH idiots.



Dan
 
Such sad news. I suppose Rick did nothing to provoke the vagrant. I've read he has had anger issues in the past. Rick's work on High 'N Dry was a great influence on me, in my up and coming years, in the early 80's. I wish him and the lady a speedy recovery.
 
“Max, are you a Def Leppard fan?” he’s asked.

Hartley turned away without comment.

....like that was the burning question everyone wanted to know. What a joke. The media are SUCH idiots.



Dan
To be fair, that wasn't the first question the reporter asked.

When he first comes out of the courthouse the first thing he asks is "Why did you attack that man, why did you attack a handicapped person?"

The video then cuts to him walking down the street (doing the classic "pretend they're not there act") when he asks about his Def Leppard fandom.

In any case Allen is going to prosecute and hope he gets the justice he (and the woman who tried to help him) deserve.
 
Florida man happens partly because it's a warm state. It's harder far a vagrant or part time homeless person to freeze in Florida.
But also because:
Florida has the strongest public record laws in the United States. This means that all crime data and reports are very transparent. This makes it very easy for journalists to access records and make a story out of it. And voila…you have multiple “Florida Man” stories for each day of the year.

Second, being an investigator across multiple sectors, I can attest there’s a lot of bizarre crimes happening everywhere in the United States. Other states have much less transparent public record laws though.
 
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