Rick Allen, the 59-year-old drummer of legendary rock group Def Leppard, was assaulted outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida on Monday, March 13.
Allen famously lost his arm in a New Year’s Eve car crash in 1984. After his arm was amputated, he reconfigured his drum kit so he could continue playing and touring with only three limbs.
Allen was smoking near a valet stand at the hotel when a teenager suddenly charged full speed at him and knocked him to the ground.
The assailant was identified as 19-year-old Max Edward Hartley from Ohio, who was visiting the area for spring break. The arrest report said Hartley was hiding behind a pole and watching Allen prior to the unprovoked attack.
Inductee Rick Allen of Def Leppard speaks onstage at the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Show at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Allen “hit his head on the ground causing injury,” according to the report which was obtained by Yahoo Entertainment. Allen’s wife, Lauren Monroe, observed the altercation from the hotel lobby and rushed out to try and help, but Hartley allegedly attacked her as well, knocking her to the ground. Monroe tried to escape by running back into the hotel, but Hartley dragged her out by her hair.
Hartley then fled the area but was later apprehended when he allegedly damaged multiple vehicles in a nearby hotel parking garage. He was arrested and charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult.
Hartley was released on bail on Tuesday. After his release, he declined to answer when approached by a reporter with 7NEWS who asked if he was a Def Leppard fan.
Def Leppard perform on stage at Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, Wembley, London, 20th April 1992, L-R Vivian Campbell, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Joe Elliott, Phil Collen. (Photo Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Allen has played with Def Leppard since 1978. The band, which grew to massive success in the early 1980s with hits like “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak,” “Photograph,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” and “Hysteria,” was in Florida to co-headline a concert with Mötley Crüe at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
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Allen provided a sworn statement to police and said that he wants to prosecute.