Charles Oakley Facing Assault Charges After Scuffle With Knicks Security

NEW YORK, NY — Charles Oakley, a 10-year veteran power forward for the New York Knicks, is facing assault charges after getting into a fight with Madison Square Garden security during the Knicks' Wednesday night game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Oakley, who was booked and released at the NYPD's Midtown South precinct, has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of criminal trespassing, an NYPD spokesman told Patch. During an altercation with security guards attempting to remove Oakley from the building the former Knicks enforcer punched three of the guards, police said.

Oakley's fight with security was captured on video and quickly posted to social media by fans at Madison Square Garden. One video shows Oakley standing up from his seat to argue with several security guards before the altercation gets physical.

Shortly after Oakley was ejected from the stadium the Knicks released a statement claiming he was acting "in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner."

According to multiple reports Oakley had allegedly been heckling Knicks owner James Dolan.

In an interview with ESPN, Oakley rejected the Knicks claims that he was in any way abusive. Oakley told ESPN that after sitting down to watch the game with some friends he was approached by security and told that somebody ordered him to leave. Oakley told ESPN that the situation got violent because he felt threatened because he was outnumbered by security.

"When somebody's walking up on you, you gotta protect yourself in all manners," Oakley told ESPN.

The Knicks have since doubled-down on their original statement, calling Oakley's side of the story "pure fiction."

Watch the full ESPN interview with Oakley below:

This story will be updated.

Photo by Bryan Horowitz via Flickr/Creative Commons