Former Knicks great Charles Oakley was escorted out of Madison Square Garden and arrested Wednesday after a bizarre altercation with a group of security guards.
In the incident, caught by ESPN cameras during the nationally televised Knicks-Clippers game, Oakley is seen shoving one security guard twice before getting escorted out of the building by an entire group. He was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of criminal trespass, according to police.
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Charles Oakley shoves Madison Square Garden security and is escorted out of the building in strange scene pic.twitter.com/lTphvnSzFV
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 9, 2017
Another look at Charles Oakley shoving MSG security pic.twitter.com/RvMXhwDghy
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 9, 2017
Oakley was released from the NYPD's Midtown South precinct, where he was being held, around midnight, then blamed the incident on Knicks owner James Dolan.
“I was there for four minutes,” Oakley told the New York Daily News , adding that he purchased his own ticket to attend the game. “I didn’t say anything to him. I swear on my mother. They came over and wanted to know why I was sitting there. I bought the ticket. I said why do you guys keep staring at me. Then they asked me to leave. And I said I’m not leaving”
In a statement, the Knicks called Oakley's behavior "highly inappropriate."
"Charles Oakley came into the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner," the team said. "He has been ejected and is currently being arrested by the NYC Police Department. He was a great Knick and we hope he gets some help soon."