The drummer for legendary rock group Def Leppard was assaulted Monday night at a Fort Lauderdale hotel after playing a show in South Florida by a crazed man from Ohio.
Rick Allen, 59, was standing in the valet area at the Four Seasons Hotel having a smoke when another man ran up and attacked him. The man also assaulted a woman who tried to help Allen. The music legend says he wants to prosecute the lunatic.
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department said Max Edward Hartley, 19, of Avon, Ohio was charged with battery, criminal mischief, and abuse of an elderly or disabled adult with great harm. Media reports claim Hartley is on spring break.
Allen has one arm. He was injured in a New Year’s Eve car crash in 1984. His arm was amputated as a result of the accident.
According to the Fort Lauderdale Police report, Hartley hid behind a pole before running at full speed and slamming into Allen.
He knocked the rock music legend backward causing him to fall and smack his head.
A woman saw what happened and rushed out to help Allen but Hartley attacked and knocked her to the ground too.
Allen was in South Florida because Def Leppard had a concert at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.
The show was co-headlined by Motley Crue.
According to The Palm Beach Post:
As the woman tried to escape into the hotel, Hartley reportedly grabbed her by her hair and dragged her out of the lobby and back onto the sidewalk before fleeing the area.
He was caught a short time later after he was seen damaging vehicles in the parking garage of a nearby hotel, the police report said.
The report did not indicate a motive for the attacks.
Hartley faces two counts of battery and four counts of criminal mischief.
He did not take questions after he posted bail Tuesday at the Broward County Jail, WSVN reported.
With @MrTommyLand: Brazilian Beats in Batman Alley – Let there be drums!!!!
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/bG2n2Q4Q6h— Rick Allen (@rickallenlive) March 9, 2023
