Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was allegedly attacked by a teenager outside of the Four Seasons Hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida on Monday.
Max Hartley, 19, was “hiding behind a pole” and charged at the 59-year-old drummer “at full run,” per a police report obtained by Yahoo Entertainment. Allen fell and hit “his head on the ground causing injury.”
The teen, who was visiting Florida on spring break, also allegedly assaulted a bystander who came to help Allen. Hartley allegedly struck and battered the woman and dragged her by the hair before turning and fleeing the scene.
Hartley was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult. The publication noted that Allen previously lost one of his arms due to a car accident in 1984.
One 911 caller reported that the teen appeared “highly intoxicated” during the time of the incident.
“I have an individual who has been running around breaking windows and has beat up a couple of guests at the Four Seasons, as well,” another 911 caller said, per 7 News Miami.
Allen is planning to press charges. The Def Leppard drummer was in town performing in concert with Mötley Crüe at the Seminole Hard Rock.
Hartley’s lawyer Sam Halpern describes the accused assailant as “an extremely sweet young man,” per The Miami Herald. “He’s never been in trouble with the law before,” he said of his client, who he noted was an all-around athlete is high school and continued playing recreational sports in college.
“He was regarded highly with close family and friends for years,” Halpern continued.
Hartley was released on bond and will likely be heading back home to Ohio for now.
Allen joined Def Leppard in 1978 on his fifteenth birthday after his mom answered an advertisement seeking a replacement drummer for the band.
In 1984, the British musician was in his Corvette attempting to pass another vehicle at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a stone wall. His arm was severed and reattached by medical professionals, but later had to be amputated due to infection.
The drummer has been playing with one arm ever since the 1984 accident using modified equipment.