Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson was detained alongside his brother after an alleged altercation at a restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina, less than a month after the actress’s death.
Police were called to the venue at about 9.10pm on Saturday, local time. Several patrons were detained during the investigation, including Hickerson and his brother Zach.
A spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department said Zach was found to be highly intoxicated and had been shouting profanities in public.
“During the investigation, officers determined that Zach was highly intoxicated,” the spokesperson said. “He began yelling profanities in a public setting, and as a result, he was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and transported to the Greenville County Detention Centre.”
Brian Hickerson was briefly detained but was not arrested and was released at the scene. Footage from outside the restaurant showed him being handcuffed and surrounded by officers, with what appeared to be blood on his face.
While being detained, Hickerson was heard yelling: “GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died.”
Zach was the person who discovered Panettiere’s body at a home in Greenville on August 16. He told reporters that he had administered naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Despite efforts by paramedics, Panettiere died at the scene aged 36. Police have not released an official cause of death and the circumstances remain under investigation.
Brian Hickerson’s history with Hayden Panettiere
Panettiere’s relationship with Hickerson, an aspiring actor from South Carolina, appeared to end in 2020 amid allegations of domestic violence.
She later wrote in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, that Hickerson had once beaten her so severely that she did not leave the house for weeks. She also said she had hesitated to report the alleged abuse because she did not want it to become public.
Hickerson was arrested in May 2019 on an allegation involving injury to a spouse or girlfriend. He pleaded no contest in April 2021 and was sentenced the following year to four years’ probation.
Panettiere requested a restraining order against him in July 2020. In a statement at the time, she said she was speaking publicly about the alleged abuse to encourage others in abusive relationships to seek help.
“I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again,” she said.
Following Panettiere’s death, Hickerson’s lawyer said the death remained under investigation and that police had confirmed there were no signs of foul play.
“Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time,” the lawyer said.
